No ISA in British Columbia - yet
The west coast of North America has yet to isolate the virus causing Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) in farmed or wild salmon. The aquaculture industry in B.C. has been spared the consequences of this disease agent, but another viral disease, IHN- caused by the Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) has inflicted heavy losses to the Atlantic salmon farmers here. IHN is an endemic disease of Pacific salmon.
The Canadian regulatory regime for the importation of genetic material is generally credited for the absence of ISA in B.C. Any importation of genetic material as- for example- eyed eggs, can only be done by obtaining a permit that declares the exporting facility as disease free according to Canadian inspection criteria.
A brood stock facilty using non-sterilized surface or salt water would not qualify under Canadian import regulations, and therefore, most European salmon breeding facilities are not able to export their genetically advanced embryos to Canada- to the detriment of both jurisdictions.
