Comment on the Cohen Commission Public Submission
Name: Sonja Saksida Date Created: June 14, 2010
Comment:
I am the Executive Director for the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, a not for profit research facility located in Campbell River. I am licensed veterinarian with training in epidemiology and aquatic animal health. I am also the author of the report referenced in this submission.
Farmed Atlantic salmon in British Columbia have not had an IHNV outbreak since 2003. This has been verified through the extensive fish health audit program run by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, which visits farms selected at random, testing 600 - 800 fish every year for IHNV (see their Fish Health reports for 2003-2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008) http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/ahc/fish_health/index.htm
The sockeye salmon that failed to return in 2009 entered the ocean as juveniles in 2007--4 years after the last outbreak of IHNV in farmed Atlantic salmon. Therefore, IHNV from farm fish could not have affected the 2009 Fraser River sockeye salmon run.
