[ad_1]
The Federal Court overturned a Fisheries and Oceans Canada policy regarding a deadly virus that could infect wild Chinook salmon in BC waters.
The Pool Orthorovirus, or PRV, is highly contagious and is often found on fish farms off British Columbia. coasts, many of which are located along the wild salmon flyways.
In her ruling on Monday, Judge Cecily Strickland stated that federal policy illegally allowed the transfer of a young Atlantic salmon from the farm to an open net pen without testing for the virus.
She gave the department four months to start testing for the disease.
PRV causes fatal inflammation of the heart and skeletal muscles in Atlantic salmon, but a 2018 study by a Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientist found that this disease was linked to a type of anemia that was also fatal in Atlantic salmon. least one species of wild BC. Salmon.
Marine biologist Alexandra Morton celebrates the victory after working with the Namgis and Ecojustice First Nation to convince the Department of Fisheries to test farmed salmon before placing it in net pens.
She says the problem is that screening for RVPs could drastically reduce the profits of the aquaculture industry.
"If the Minister of Fisheries respects the law of Canada, controls the fish and does not allow infected fish to throw themselves into the water, I do not think that the fish industry has enough fish. fish to maintain farming in these waters, and I think that's the crux of the problem, "says Morton.
Morton and the Namgis sued the police last year.
Strickland's judgment, released on Monday, says the federal policy of not testing the virus "perpetuates the minister's willful blindness about the spread of GVP infection in hatcheries and fish farms."
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said by e-mail that the court's decision was under review.
"Our government understands that a sound and scientific approach to regulating the aquaculture industry is essential and that is why we have conducted and will continue to conduct extensive research that informs our policies and regulations." said Wilkinson in his release. (The Canadian Press, CFAX)
The Canadian press
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
[ad_2]
Source link