Read this story from CTV.ca on the decision by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to quarantine a second salmon farm in BC in under two weeks as a result of an outbreak of the deadly IHN virus. (May 23, 2012)
For the second time in less than two weeks, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has quarantined a B.C. salmon farm over concerns about the presence and possible spread of a virus.
Grieg Seafood announced Wednesday that while tests haven’t yet confirmed the presence of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus at its Ahlstrom Point farm, near Sechelt, B.C., the agency has quarantined the site, home to about 310,000 coho.
That official quarantine follows a voluntary isolation implemented by the company last week after a routine test identified a “low-positive result” for the virus.
Earlier this week, Mainstream Canada announced its Dixon Bay farm, north of Tofino, is now empty after tests confirmed May 14 the presence of the virus, leading to the cull of more than 560,000 young Atlantic salmon.
“Really, it’s about saying we’re in this stage where we know this virus can affect farm-raised Atlantic salmon and we want to do everything right to make sure that we are not going to be spreading it from there,” said Stewart Hawthorn, Grieg Seafood’s managing director.
“So the quarantine order is to prevent any risk of any spread from that location.”