Virus detected at multiple sites.
In a press release, Mowi-owned Northern Harvest Sea Farms writes that there has been a suspect detection of Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus at the McGrath Cove North marine site and the Ironskull Point marine site, located off the south coast of Newfoundland, Eastern Canada.
“In each case, these suspect detections of ISAv occurred in one Atlantic salmon from one cage at each site that was sampled through the Provincial Government Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture’s species-specific aquatic animal health surveillance program,” wrote Northern Harvest Sea Farms.
The cage at the McGrathCove North site from which the suspect detection occurred contains approximately 185,000 fish, and the marine site is comprised of 3 cages containing a total population of approximately 560,000 fish.
The cage at the Ironskull point site from which the suspect detection occurred contains approximately 225,000 fish, and the marine site is comprised of three cages containing a total population of approximately 500,000 fish. Northern Harvest Sea Farms is working with federal and provincial authorities and following best practices in the handling of these farms.
The potenial amount of fish involved here could reach over 1 million fish.
“These marine sites have been quarantined, and the company is following all regulatory requirements. ISAv is a naturally occurring virus and is not a human health issue or a food safety issue. The disclosure of this suspect detection on the provincial industry association website within 24 hours of the detection complies with policy AP 17,” wrote Northern Harvest Sea Farms Director of Communications Jason Card.