Cullen calls federal decision "huge win for wild salmon" – Coast Mountain News

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has four months to begin testing the orthorovirus pool, or RVP, on fish farms, following the Federal Court decision of Monday, February 5.

The virus causes inflammation of the heart and skeletal muscles and is often found in Atlantic salmon farming along the BC coast. In March 2018, new research linked the disease to wild British Columbia. Chinook.

Nathan Cullen, Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, welcomes the Federal Court ruling that requires DFO to test the PRV virus before the farm salmon is transferred or released.

An existing DFO policy allowed fish farms to move juvenile salmon in open net pens before testing for the virus.

The study conducted by the Pacific Salmon Foundation in March showed strong evidence that exposure of wild Chinook salmon to the farm-raised salmon pest virus from farmed salmon only added to the concerns expressed by First Nations and environmentalists.

As a result of Judge Cecily Strickland's decision, Cullen said, "Today's decision represents a great victory for wild salmon and for all those who care about healthy salmon returning to our rivers every day. summer."

"The fact that Canadians had to go to court to force the Liberal government to really protect our salmon from disease is staggering. It's a government that claims to respect science, but DFO's decisions like this seriously undermine the confidence of Canadians in their ability to do their jobs and support fisheries, "he said in a statement. Press release.

Protecting wild salmon, not fish farming, must be a priority, Cullen said.

DFO said in a news release that it was reviewing the decision of the Federal Court. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Jonathan Wilkinson, said the government "understands that a sound and scientific approach to regulating the aquaculture industry is essential.That is why we conducted and continue to conduct extensive research that informs our policies and regulations. "

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Shannon Lough