Salmon federation upset with government over reporting of outbreak

By Katie Hartai

The Atlantic Salmon Federation is frustrated with the way the province reported an infectious salmon anemia outbreak at two salmon farms in Nova Scotia. 

Last week Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell announced about 600,000 salmon smolts had to be killed following an outbreak of infectious salmon anemia, but he would not disclose which two farms were impacted.

Atlantic Salmon Federation spokesperson Neville Crabbe says the government should have been more clear when talking about the virus.

“The term that the government of Nova Scotia used in its notice to the public was that the disease was discovered in land-based aquaculture facilities,” said Crabbe. “And I think it was that specific wording that led to some confusion afterwards.”

He says the wording was unfortunate because it allowed some people to leap to false conclusions about land-based aquaculture facilities. 

Crabbe says the problem must have been at land-based hatcheries that produce smolts than transfer them grow them to market size in open net-pen sea cages.

Crabbe says the federation wants to make sure the public understands closed containment salmon projects are safe.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today