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How Long Can B.C. Avoid ISA?
by Alexandra Morton
Dear Editor; Mary Ellen Walling has tried to make light of the risk of ISA virus entering BC waters.
Dear Editor; Mary Ellen Walling has tried to make light of the risk of ISA virus entering BC waters.image
I would like to ask the BC salmon farmers to stand behind this statement and test every one of their fish farms today for the Infectious Salmon Anemia virus and report back to the BC public.
This seems a small request given the scope of impact of this virus in Chile. ISA virus, like bird and swine flu, is easily tracked and if it does arrive we will know where it came from and who brought it here. The fish farm industry published several articles earlier this year on the high risk of this Global epidemic coming to BC: “How long can B.C. avoid ISA?” ISA (Intrafish Jan 12, 2009)
This prompted me to write the Minister of Fisheries requesting the BC border be closed to import of farm fish embryos (eggs). The Minister erroneously responded that ISA does not travel in the eggs (see attached), when scientific publications are showing the opposite http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19034606
If DFO is not going to take steps to protect the eastern Pacific from this virus, it will have to be up to the fish farmers. I would suggest it would be cheaper for the industry to make the tests now, destroy any infected stocks, and close the border immediately than to risk being found responsible for an epidemic that could alter this coast forever. If neither DFO nor the fish farmers are going to do this I invite the BC public to contact me and we will test for this virus ourselves.
Standing by,
Alexandra Morton
I would like to ask the BC salmon farmers to stand behind this statement and test every one of their fish farms today for the Infectious Salmon Anemia virus and report back to the BC public.
This seems a small request given the scope of impact of this virus in Chile. ISA virus, like bird and swine flu, is easily tracked and if it does arrive we will know where it came from and who brought it here. The fish farm industry published several articles earlier this year on the high risk of this Global epidemic coming to BC: “How long can B.C. avoid ISA?” ISA (Intrafish Jan 12, 2009)
“Far from coming under control the virus continuously alludes preventative measures, passing through the safety net of the most stringent control measures in the world. Aquaculture Fish Jefo Nutrition Inc. Fish Vet Group “ (The FishSite attached)
This prompted me to write the Minister of Fisheries requesting the BC border be closed to import of farm fish embryos (eggs). The Minister erroneously responded that ISA does not travel in the eggs (see attached), when scientific publications are showing the opposite http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19034606
If DFO is not going to take steps to protect the eastern Pacific from this virus, it will have to be up to the fish farmers. I would suggest it would be cheaper for the industry to make the tests now, destroy any infected stocks, and close the border immediately than to risk being found responsible for an epidemic that could alter this coast forever. If neither DFO nor the fish farmers are going to do this I invite the BC public to contact me and we will test for this virus ourselves.
Standing by,
Alexandra Morton
The arrival of the ISA virus in Chilean waters
La NaciÛn - Sunday, June 22nd 2008
La NaciÛn - Sunday, June 22nd 2008
A Norwegian scientist offered his hypothesis to SalmonChile representatives, but the information never saw the public light. According to him, all evidence suggests that a Norwegian company introduced the virus that is rocking the industry, but neither the authorities nor the salmon companies are looking for culprits; instead, they are looking for ways to solve the problem.
Technicians from the six leading salmon companies in Chile met in Puerto Montt a few months ago. Norwegian scientist Are Nylund, an expert studying the impacts of the ISA virus at a global scale, was presenting his hypothesis. "There are many different types of ISA virus in Chile. We have only studied a few of these. According to the genome analysis, they reveal they are virtually identical to a type of ISA virus found in a Norwegian salmon farming operation. This company has been selling eggs to Chile. Several studies demonstrate that the ISA virus can be transmitted via eggs."
Technicians from the six leading salmon companies in Chile met in Puerto Montt a few months ago. Norwegian scientist Are Nylund, an expert studying the impacts of the ISA virus at a global scale, was presenting his hypothesis. "There are many different types of ISA virus in Chile. We have only studied a few of these. According to the genome analysis, they reveal they are virtually identical to a type of ISA virus found in a Norwegian salmon farming operation. This company has been selling eggs to Chile. Several studies demonstrate that the ISA virus can be transmitted via eggs."
Nylund’s explanation remained a secret; however, back in his lab in Norway, the scientist confirmed his hypothesis to LND and stressed the need for one of the leading salmon farming operations in the world to take steps towards sustainable growth. "The Chilean industry needs to make radical changes, for instance, healthy fish should be kept in isolation and away from regular salmon production. These fish should also be separated according to generations, the distance between them should be monitored, and the handling of fish within the farms should be reviewed," says Nylund. According to one of the attendees, the company Nylund was referring to was also present at the meeting.
The first place where ISA was detected in our country is the property of Marine Harvest. "It is said that the ISA†virus originated in the eggs imported by this company. It is not a coincidence that 60% of the affected centers belong to them," says Ricardo Casas, union leader at the Norwegian subsidiary in Chile. However, not even scientists can offer conclusive evidence.
POLLUTERS WON’T PAY
Publicly, company owners are quick to state that information on the origin of the virus is not relevant, and that their task in the future is to enhance conditions so as to avoid the spread of diseases. "It is very difficult to find out for sure who is responsible for the introduction of the virus. Everybody is exposed to the problem; we must prevent these situations from occurring, but when and where they exist, they should be dealt with and contained in the best possible manner," says Roberto Tapia, Director of the SalmonChile Technological Institute.
The Government is not after the culprits either; instead, they are trying to set policies to lessen the effects of the ISA virus. Currently, Sernapesca is concentrating all efforts on a study that will determine the elements that favor the spread of the disease and, ultimately, will reveal the new rules of the game that must be adhered to. "The industry needs to adopt specific measures against the disease as well as general measures of productive handling and biosecurity which will effectively stop the spread of the disease," says FÈlix Inostroza, Director of Sernapesca.
But not everybody agrees. Environmental groups believe that it is important to trace the origin of the virus back to the company that introduced it in our seas. Francisco Pinto, natural resource coordinator for Terram, disagrees with the view expressed by the Government and the salmon farming operations, and insists that it is important to identify the responsible company so that we can look at their purchasing policies; where they got the eggs from, whether the supplier is a trustworthy party, whether the eggs are certified, the reasons behind the purchase..." A second phase looks at the process of introduction of the eggs in Chile, and the reasons why the existence of the ISA virus was not detected," he adds.
If we can identify the responsible party, we will be able to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. We won’t be able to do anything about the damage caused, since Chilean law does not penalize practices that harm ecosystems unless an environmental offense takes place.
"The big issue in Chile is regulation. We cannot make any company responsible and we cannot expect amends to be made. We cannot accuse them of breaking the law because there is no law in place," regrets ¡lex MuÒoz, Executive Director of Oceana, and he quickly points at the State as the main culprit for failing to provide the necessary framework to prevent environmental impacts and make companies responsible for any damages caused.
ROTTEN EGGS
"I don’t believe a Norwegian company has introduced the ISA virus in Chile on purpose, but they were aware of the risk posed by the importing of eggs," says the Norwegian scientist. According to Are Nylund, this stems from the inability of the country to produce enough eggs, and it is vital that the industry takes some steps forward in this respect.
At present, Chilean companies produce eggs, but the acute growth of salmon aquaculture means these eggs are not enough to satisfy industry demands, so they are imported from abroad. From January to November 2007, Chile produced 81% of the eggs and imported the other 19%. The percentage varies through the year, depending on the season. "We can say that the Chilean industry has grown rapidly, and it hasn’t done so in a sustainable manner. The Chilean industry needs to produce its own egg stock and make sure these eggs are not infected with ISA or any other pathogens that can be transmitted the same way," says Nylund.
The import of eggs was not the only factor leading to this catastrophe affecting salmon farming operations. The industry’s deficient practices also helped to spread the virus and to dig the grave that they are currently trying to get out of. "What we see now is the product of what they have created. Aquaculture centers present very high production densities. Here, we are talking about 25 kilos per cubic meter; other countries have less than 15 kilos in the same space. The more fish there are, the less space they have to move around, so they end up with high stress levels and their immune system suffers from this – they are more prone to disease, just as it is the case with humans," explains Francisco Pinto.
Environmental organizations blame aquaculture companies, but they also blame the State for the laxed approach. "The Government has allowed these companies to grow unchecked. These are the consequences," assures Pinto.
The salmon industry exported $2,250,000 million last year; within 20 years, it became the top third exporter in the country. Following this success, today the industry struggles to solve the worst challenge to date; to find new clean seas to avoid infection, which affects 24 aquaculture centers, or to drastically change production methods. Nylund offers a final thought; "I think the Chilean industry will solve these problems and recover, but I think it will be a while before it can restructure successfully." Time goes by and decisions made by government and industry agencies will be definitive. Will they pass the ISA test? LND
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