BC Salmon Farmers Statement on Lawsuit
BCSFA, Thursday, May 9, 2013
A lawsuit has been filed against one of our member companies and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans by Ecojustice on behalf of Alexandra Morton. The lawsuit alleges that the company violated federal law when it transferred Atlantic salmon with piscine reovirus (PRV) into an open-pen fish farm in Shelter Bay, B.C.
There is no evidence that PRV causes disease in salmon. It is a naturally occurring reovirus. Reoviruses get their name because many are respiratory and enteric orphans. They are called “orphans” because many are viruses without an associated disease. Other reoviruses have been found for decades in wild fish.
“We are extremely disappointed that this lawsuit has been filed,” said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association.
“Our member companies are committed to producing high quality salmon products from healthy stocks and our industry takes all steps to ensure that the fish that enters our farms or into the marine environment are healthy and disease free.”
A Q&A form on PRV has been posted to the BC Salmon Farmers website. It can be found under “Hot Topics.”
The BCSFA represents salmon farm companies and those who supply services and supplies to the industry. Salmon-farming provides for 6,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing $800-million to the provincial economy each year.
For more information visit www.salmonfarmers.org
