Why there is no ISA in British Columbia
Seeing their overblown hysteria over sea lice fading away as credible scientists finish writing up their research findings, B.C. based environmental groups are now on to a new target: ISA. In recent public letters to government officials, ENGO's are suggesting that it is only a matter of time before ISA arrives in B.C. Stating that "Specifically the following activities in B.C. are known to aggrevate and spread ISA", a letter from Alexandra Morton claims that one of these risks is "importing of live embryos and broodstock from ISA infected regions". The letter is supposedly signed by hundreds of people from all over the world. When they signed this letter, did they know that there has never been any importation of "live broodstock" into B.C.?
The Canadian government established the Fish Health Protection Regulations during the early days of salmon farming in B.C., requiring the disease-free certification of a facility from where fertilized and disinfected eggs would be shipped from, and the storage and sampling of gametes in a quarantene facility upon arrival. Here is a brief summary from the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans;Aquaculture facilities wishing to export live salmonids to other Canadian provinces must be certified under the Canadian Fish Health Protection Regulations (FHPR). The Fish Pathology Program at the Pacific Biological Station undertakes the inspection of facilities and certification of the fish under these regulations. Before a facility is certified, four inspections (over a two year period) must be carried out and the facility must be found free of the pathogens of concern. Fish are tested for viral agents and the agents which cause furunculosis, enteric redmouth disease, whirling disease and Ceratomyxa infections.
To develop a suitable genetic base, the B.C. salmon farming industry may request to import eggs from new stocks on occasion. A permit to import eggs is required to ensure that several levels of safeguards, established by DFO through its salmonid importation policies, are in place. These include:
- importation of eggs only (live fish are not permitted)
- surface-disinfection of eggs prior to shipping
- certification of the exporting facility under the Fish Health Protection Regulations (FHPR) and inspection by a Canadian Fish Health Officer
- rearing of eggs and fry in a DFO-approved quarantine facility until the fish are at least 3 grams. During this time monthly health monitoring must be done to test for infectious agents.
The Local Fish Health Officer who is in charge of administering the FHPR in the Region issues the import permits, approves the quarantine facilities before the eggs arrive, and inspects the imported stock.
