Vancouver, British Columbia - Fisheries and Oceans Canada - From January 28-30, 2019, Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) conducted a meeting to review scientific evidence and to provide science advice on the risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon due to Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV) transfer from Atlantic salmon farms located in the Discovery Islands area, British Columbia. This peer-review process is a recommendation of the Cohen Commission.
The scientific experts who peer-reviewed the data and risk assessment reached a consensus that the risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon due to PRV is minimal. This is consistent with the conclusion of a 2015 CSAS report.
The assessment was conducted based on the latest Canadian and international data including results from the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative.
As there are still some knowledge gaps in our understanding of this virus, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to be vigilant, and support further scientific research on PRV. It will also rely on domestic and international experts in this field, and the peer review process, to obtain the best science available to inform evidence-based decisions on the management and regulation of Canada’s aquaculture sector.
The PRV risk assessment represents the sixth in the series of ten risk assessments on pathogen transfer from farmed Atlantic salmon to Fraser River sockeye salmon. The assessment follows the standard CSAS process, which is a robust and transparent peer-review procedure that ensures meeting conclusions and final scientific advice are reached by expert consensus.
A full report on the peer-review findings will be published on the CSAS website in late spring 2019 after final review by the peer-review participants.
Source : Government Of Canada