Researchers have documented a deadly bacterial disease in wild Chinook salmon off the west coast of Vancouver Island for the first time.

The study found signs of tenacibaculosis in 16 per cent of the 99 Chinook salmon sampled in Barkley Sound. The disease, which can cause severe skin and fin damage and lead to mortality, is already well known in farmed salmon but had not previously been confirmed in wild-caught fish.

Researchers say the findings provide new evidence that bacterial diseases can contribute to the growing pressures facing wild Chinook populations. They are calling for further research to better understand where the fish are becoming infected, how widely the disease may be spreading and what it could mean for other Pacific salmon populations.

The discovery underscores the importance of reducing avoidable risks to wild salmon and ensuring decisions about aquaculture fully account for potential disease impacts.

Learn more:
https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-researchers-deadly-bacterial-disease-wild-chinook