Mowi Canada East’s Northern Harvest Sea Farms (NHSF) informed that there has been a suspect detection of Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAv) at the Cinq Island Cove marine site located off the south coast of Newfoundland.
“This suspect detection of ISAv occurred in one cage in one Atlantic salmon sampled through the Provincial Government Department of Fisheries and Land Resources’ (FLR) species-specific aquatic animal health surveillance program. The cage contains approximately 200,000 Atlantic salmon, and the marine site is comprised of three cages containing a total of approximately 600,000 Atlantic salmon,” Mowi wrote in a statement.
According to Mowi they are now working with the federal and provincial authorities and following best practices in the handling of this salmon farm.
“The Cinq Island Cove marine site has been quarantined by FLR and the company is following all regulatory requirements,” Mowi wrote.
ISA is a naturally occurring virus and is not a human health issue or a food safety issue.
In an e-mail to SalmonBusiness Mowi Canada East wrote that they will not provide any further comment beyond the public statement until it can be determined if this suspect finding of ISA can be confirmed.