Abstract
The transmission of pathogens is a common consequence of animal food production. Marine salmon farms and their processing facilities can serve as sources of virulent fish pathogens; our study is the first to confirm the broadcast of a live fish pathogen from a farmed salmon processing facility into the marine waters of Canada's Pacific coast. We found live salmon lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis, mucus, and fish tissue in effluent from the processing facility. Sea lice transmitted from this source may pose a threat to wild salmon populations, and the release of untreated offal, including blood water, is of considerable concern. Further research is needed to quantify the extent to which processing facilities release sea lice and to determine whether more virulent fish pathogens are present in effluent. These data underscore the need for fish farming nations to develop mandatory biosecurity programs to ensure that farmed salmon processing facilities will prevent the broadcast of infectious fish pathogens into wild fish habitat.
References
Oct 1, 1981·Digestive Diseases and Sciences·A B Thomson
Jan 22, 2000·Science·P DaszakA D Hyatt
Jun 14, 2003·Diseases of Aquatic Organisms·Erik SterudAgnar Kvellestad
Mar 2, 2005·Preventive Veterinary Medicine·Alexander G Murray, Edmund J Peeler
Sep 29, 2005·Preventive Veterinary Medicine·Carol A McClureIan R Dohoo
May 16, 2006·Microbes and Infection·Rodolphe E GozlanStephen W Feist
Dec 28, 2006·Diseases of Aquatic Organisms·S M Saksida
Feb 15, 2007·Journal of Fish Diseases·Ø Øines, P A Heuch
Feb 24, 2007·International Journal for Parasitology·Barbara F Nowak
Dec 15, 2007·Science·Martin KrkosekMark A Lewis
Oct 22, 2008·Preventive Veterinary Medicine·Alexander G Murray
Oct 30, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·K PulkkinenE T Valtonen
Dec 8, 2010·Diseases of Aquatic Organisms·Alexander G MurrayRob S Raynard
Dec 15, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Gary D MartyTerrance J Quinn
Feb 25, 2011·PloS One·Michael H H PriceJohn D Reynolds
Aug 30, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Martin KrkosekRay Hilborn
Jul 13, 2013·Virology Journal·Molly J T KibengeFrederick S B Kibenge