More suspected ISA outbreaks reported

Grieg Seafood may have suffered a second outbreak of Infectious Salmon Anaemia in just over a month. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has said there is suspicion of ISA at Grieg’s site at Vannfjorden in the Nordkapp municipality of Finnmark. A separate outbreak was reported and confirmed at another Grieg site in Finnmark at the beginning of September. There are also reports of a further outbreak at a site owned by a smaller fish farming business. The Food Safety Authority said that everyone who travels in the area of the Grieg farm and engages in activities related to fish farming must show necessary care so that the spread of any disease is avoided. It is also planning an inspection of the facility in Karlsøy municipality in the Troms and Finnmark region, where there is a suspected outbreak. The site is operated by Wilsgård Fiskeoppdrett AS. It reports the suspicion is based on clinical signs, pathological changes and the result of analysis carried out after sampling of fish at the site. If the suspicions are confirmed restrictions similar to those at the Grieg locality will be imposed to prevent further spread. There have been a worryingly high number of ISA cases along the northern section of Norway’s coastline this year and an official inquiry has been launched into possible causes which so far remain a mystery. When ISA is confirmed the cages at affected farms usually have to be emptied and the salmon slaughtered at high cost to the owning company .