November 27, 2019

Iceland and Norway salmon affected by diseases

The viral disease infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPA) was confirmed in Iceland, while infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) was discovered at two sites in Norway, reported Fish Information & Services.

Food safety and marine health organisations in both countries are actively managing the diseases.

While IPA has affected halibut in Iceland previously, this is the first time that it has been reported at a Laxa salmon freshwater aquaculture facility in Reydarfjordur, Iceland.

The disease was discovered after Laxa has conducted periodic sampling, but the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Health Authority had found that the IPA-infected salmon were healthy.

IPA can be fatal to fish.

In Norway, Norwegian Food Safety Authority detected ISA at a SalMar salmon aquaculture facility in Harstad, Troms.

State broadcaster NRK said up to 170,000 salmon have been culled, with several restrictions implemented in surrounding areas to prevent the spread of ISA.

ISA was also detected in a Mowi aquaculture facility in Finnøy, Rogoland. The authorities have also implemented prevention measures to curb the spread of the disease.

-      Fish Information & Services, through Fish Farmer