An aquatic virus may be the culprit for the recent decline of B.C.’s salmon stocks, according to researcher Dr. Kristi Miller of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Miller revealed the findings of her recent research at the Cohen Commission in Vancouver yesterday.
She and DFO virologist Dr. Kyle Garver have found a correlation between the presence of a potentially diseased gene in Pacific salmon, and high rates of mortality among the fish.
“The strength of the genome signature (from the affected fish) indicates that it is potentially causing disease,” said Miller, whom the DFO had prohibited from sharing this information with the Canadian public until yesterday.
“Since the genomic signature is not generalized (to all parts of the affected fish), it fits the pathogen hypothesis,” she added.
As scientific investigation on the subject is ongoing, it’s too early to determine the origin or history of the prospective virus, Miller and Garver agreed.
Test results to ascertain whether farmed Atlantic salmon in B.C. may be disease carriers are also pending.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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