New Research Finds Widespread Disease Outbreaks at B.C. Salmon Farms
New research examining open-net pen salmon farms in British Columbia’s Broughton Archipelago has found outbreaks of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), a viral disease affecting farmed Atlantic salmon, at most of the farms studied. Conducted through the Broughton Aquaculture Transition Initiative, the research brought together scientists from the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the University of British Columbia. Researchers repeatedly examined the farms over more than a year, with three independent pathologists confirming the disease.
In an article published in The Conversation, researchers Gideon Mordecai and Don Svanvik warn that HSMI outbreaks may be far more common in B.C. salmon farms than federal reporting suggests. The disease is associated with piscine orthoreovirus (PRV), a virus that can spread from farmed salmon to wild fish. Despite growing scientific evidence of its risks, DFO has maintained a policy since 2019 that does not recognize PRV as an infectious disease agent. The authors question whether the department’s current approach adequately reflects the threats posed to wild salmon populations.
For Wild First, the findings reinforce the importance of independent science and a precautionary approach to protecting wild Pacific salmon. As Canada works toward its commitment to end open-net pen salmon aquaculture in B.C. coastal waters by June 30, 2029, the research underscores the need for federal decisions that fully account for disease risks associated with open-net pen farms.
Read the full article in The Conversation.