VANCOUVER – Experts say a highly-infectious virus has been found in wild salmon on B.C.’s central coast.
The research of Simon Fraser University professor Rick Routledge led to the discovery of infectious salmon anaemia in two of 48 sockeye smolts collected.
Routledge, who’s doing a long-term study on the collapse of Rivers Inlet sockeye, says the exotic disease could have a devastating impact on wild salmon in B.C.
Alexandra Morton, a biologist and long-time critic of salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago, says the European strain of the virus could only have come from the farmed Atlantic salmon in the area.
Routledge says the possible impact of the virus can’t be taken lightly and there must be an immediate response to assess the extent of the outbreak and the possible source.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been notified about the European strain of the virus being found in Pacific salmon fry.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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