2 July 2008

Sernapesca said that salmon were brought on 2005 from the X region and were originated from national eggs. In salmon farm centres owned by that company in Chiloé were registered the first cases of this disease; and most of the centres currently affected by ISA are property of that multinational company.

Valparaíso, July 2nd 2008. (Ecoceanos News)- The  National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) confirmed today to Ecoceanos News that the salmon farm centre were ISA virus was first detected in Magallanes Region is property of the Norwegian multinational Marine Harvest.

Alicia Gallardo, head of the aquaculture division at Sernapesca said that "we did the traceability analysis and was determined that the broodstock arrived to the Marine Harvest centre in 2005"

"They came from the X Region and were national eggs", she added.

The officer stated that "since the sanitary barrier was implemented in April this year, all fish arriving to the XII Region have been tested for ISA virus"

"Only one centre out of the total 100% of the salmon centres of the XII Region was positive to the virus; but this not evidenced the clinical disease, that is what causes the loses. When a broodstock centre is affected the strategy is to immediately eliminate the positive specimen as well as its eggs", said the professional.

Asked about why this centre is not included at the list that the governmental agency releases on regular basis, Gallardo explained that Sernapesca only makes public centres under outbreak, suspicion or quarantined categories, based on the risks they pose.

To Sernapesca this case falls under "vigilance category".

Last Friday, Regional Director of Sernapesca in Magallanes, Patricio Díaz, already had informed to "Patagonia Without Salmon Coordination" that the salmon net cage detected as affected by ISA virus was from the multinational company Marine Harvest.

According to the list released by Sernapesca, there are 10 fish farm centres of the multinational Norwegian company under outbreak category; 14 under suspicion; and 8 are under quarantine.
The cages were ISA virus was detected in Magallanes are located at  Caleta Donoso, 10 km southwest far from Puerto Natales, in Seno de Última Esperanza.

In light of this new information the veterinary doctor and Executive Director of Centro Ecoceanos, Juan Carlos Cárdenas, said that "the confirmation of this first case of ISA virus in Magallanes Region in a Marine Harvest centre, draws the attention on the responsibility that this transnational Norwegian company would have in the most serious sanitary; environmental; and social crisis affecting the salmon farming industry in Chile.

It was a Marine Harvest centre in Chiloé, where the first case of ISA was detected in Chile, just one year ago.

Centro Ecoceanos' director added "the Norwegian multimillionaire John Fredriksen -Marine Harvest's most important shareholder- must take the responsibility in front of Magallanes, Aysén and Chiloé communities for the serious impacts on the marine sanitary patrimony; the environment; detriment on artisinal fishers and tourism entrepreneurs; and also for the thousands of jobs that are been lost"

As part of Pure Salmon Campaign, Centro Ecoceanos denounced these situations during the last Annual General Meeting of Marine Harvest's shareholders held during the first week of June in Oslo, Norway.

Source:  Ecoceanos News