Does anyone have any information on the recent crisis in the last couple of years where fish in Chile are dieing at a very young age due to some disease. I have only heard it second hand, but am keen to understand what the real issue is and when and if it can be solved.
Posts Tagged ‘salmon’
Sea lice and Anemia problems with Farmed Finfish
October 1st, 2008 by AndrewChilean Salmon farmers are under increasing pressure to manage the health of their salmon farms.
Firstly, the parasitic bacteria Rickettsia which is carried by sea lice infect the cells of Salmon. Chilean salmon ventures use a variety of antibiotics to treat this bacteria in fish farms however, at least one of these antibiotics, ivermectin, has been ban by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the FDA tests less than 2% of salmon imported by Chile.
Secondly, Chilean Salmon farms are under siege by Infectious Salmon Anemia which is a contagious viral disease that kills up to 2% of Chilean farmed salmon. The disease is so contagious that often the whole farm population is needed to be eradicated to remove the viral disease. This disease is also prevalent in Scotland and Norway.
Supermarket chain Safeway’s reduced Chilean salmon purchases after a New York Times article about Chilean salmon sanitary conditions. Considering that the US is the biggest export market for Chile’s third biggest export, it is imperative to find solutions to these two problems.
Research into protecting salmon from climate change
September 21st, 2008 by AndrewI heard a brief article on ABC News Radio on 16 September regarding a project at the University of the Sunshine Coast and Griffith University to better understand the effects of climate change on the salmon farming industry in Tasmania.
Tasmanian salmon are already reared in water temperatures approaching the upper limit of salmons’ natural range – so even minor shifts in sea temperatures due to global warming could have a dramatic effect on the local aquaculture industry.
In particular, hatching rates are predicted to drop off steeply.
Further information about the project is available from http://www.usc.edu.au/University/MediaPublications/News/MoreNews/SalmonProject.htm
The same professor is leading this project as is involved in the EU’s Reprofish project – perhaps she is a key contact for the Finfish community?
