No confirmed disease in B.C. salmon
By Kevin Stringer, The Ottawa Citizen December 4, 2012
Re: Salmon drama raises questions about government's role, Nov. 30.
Elizabeth Payne's column paints an inaccurate picture of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's role in testing for infectious salmon anemia.
There are stringent federal regulations in place to protect Canada's aquatic species, both wild and farmed, from disease. To date, contrary to some media reports, there has not been a confirmed case of ISA in British Columbia salmon, either wild or farmed.
Upon the allegations that ISA had been found in wild Pacific salmon, the government reacted quickly and tested the samples using Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Gulf Fisheries Centre, which meets internationally recognized standards for ISA testing; results from our laboratory can be considered valid.
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with the province of British Columbia, tested all samples related to the suspected ISA investigation in B.C.
Based on the final results, there have been no confirmed cases of the disease in wild or farmed salmon in B.C. In recent years, the Government of Canada and B.C. have tested more than 5,000 wild and farmed salmon in B.C. for infectious salmon anemia.
None has ever tested positive. ISA poses no risk to people. Pacific salmon appear to be resistant to the disease.
Canadians can have full confidence in the testing results from the Gulf Fisheries Centre, as they can in the Government of Canada's serious and ongoing commitment to protecting the health of Canada's wild and farmed fish from aquatic animal diseases.
Kevin Stringer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
