ISA, an influenza-like virus that afflicts fish but not humans, has stymied Chile’s farmed salmon industry over the past year-and-a-half, forcing companies to curb production and lay off workers.
An ISA outbreak occurred 10 years ago in Scotland, costing its farmed salmon industry £37 million (US$53.7 million) and 200 jobs. Also, supermarkets refused to sell fish originating from any of the 35 farms confirmed or suspected to have the disease.
The farm affected by ISA is located in the Burra area and has been empty since Dec. 21. The Scottish government has implemented a “surveillance zone” around the farm and is restricting the distribution of salmon there.
“We are not relaxed by any means, and any outbreak of ISA is deeply concerning, but we learned a lot from the previous outbreak,” David Sandison, secretary of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organization, told The Herald. “As long as we continue to monitor and to work with the fish health inspectors, as well as putting in appropriate checks and measures, we are confident this can be contained.”
