MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

“A highly infectious virus found in wild salmon on B.C.’s central coast could have a devastating impact on the province’s wild salmon and herring, according to some experts.

Simon Fraser University Prof. Rick Routledge discovered the disease known as infectious salmon anemia, or ISA, in two of 48 sockeye smolts collected. The fish were caught 100 kilometres from the nearest fish farm, and had never been out to sea.

The infection was diagnosed by Dr. Fred Kibenge, an employee at the Atlantic Veterinary College in P.E.I., who notified the CFIA.

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.

He 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.

‘First thing that I think we should do is start looking for the source,’ said Routledge.

Infectious salmon anemia, or ISA has never been found in salmon off B.C.’s coast — not in the Atlantic species that are raised in ocean pens, and never in B.C.’s indigenous wild salmon.” Read more.