Press Release from Cooke Aquaculture on Jan. 22, 2020:
Cold Ocean Salmon Inc.
January 22, 2020
Statement regarding the detection of federally reportable diseases for a licensed aquaculture site
In accordance with the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Land Resources regulations, the detection of federally reportable diseases for a licensed aquaculture site must be reported to the public within 24 hours of the detection.
On January 21, 2020, Cold Ocean Salmon Inc. received a positive RT-PCR test result for Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAv) at Atlantic salmon site AQ840 stocked with 483,886 fish located near Sugarloaf Island within Great Cullier Bay, Bay D’Espoir, NL. The detection was from one fish from pen 2 and two fish from pen 4.
ISA (Infectious Salmon Anaemia) is a naturally occurring virus and is not a human health issue or a food safety issue. The ISA test result was identified during the Province’s routine fish health surveillance program. This detection confirms that the program is effective.
The company is making plans for removal pending confirmatory testing. This proactive approach to removing fish immediately following a positive diagnosis has proven to be the most successful method for managing this virus. The company has taken all the responsible steps under the oversight of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Land Resources and is following government approved regulations to protect fish health.
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Contact: Joel Richardson
Vice President Public Relations
Cooke Aquaculture Inc. / for Cold Ocean Salmon Inc.
40 Wellington Row, Saint John, NB, Canada E2L 3H3
+1-506-694-4939 office / +1-506-721-1093
mobile joel.richardson@cookeaqua.com /
www.cookeseafood.com