The lab results came back negative for Grieg Seafood last week, after the presence of infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) was discovered at their Ahlstrom Point salmon farm during routine testing.
The follow-up test involved 30 animals and all were negative, said Stewart Hawthorn of Grieg Seafood. The quarantine status of the farm has not yet changed Grieg wants to get a series of negative tests before we look to change our enhanced biosecurity status.
What has changed is the political situation surrounding the oft-controversial practice of salmon farming.
Last week, Grieg Seafood's announcement came after a disastrous outbreak near Tofino resulted in the destruction of thousands of fish.
At the same time, the B.C. government's Bill 37, the Animal Health Act, was being considered in the legislature.
Reactions were mixed to the legislation, which sought to impose a gag order on those who might report outbreaks of diseased livestock, before reports are officially confirmed.
a person must refuse, despite the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to disclose the following section 16 of the Act read, including information that would reveal that a notifiable or reportable disease is or may be present in a specific place.
Hawthorn did not comment on how the emergence of details, showing the company to be testing for IHN at 12 of its farms, might have impacted their business, despite the results coming back negative.
Bill 37 was designed to limit the spread and likelihood of outbreaks, according to a provincial announcement on April 30.
Subsequently, Minister of Agri-culture Don McRae offered amendments to the legislation, including section 16.
There was never any intention to include the general public, interest groups or media, but rather only persons directly involved in administering the act, said McRae. It just makes more sense to clear up any confusion with a simple amendment.
Powell River - Sunshine Coast NDP MLA Nicholas Simons said the legislation would not have impacted Grieg Seafood, as the IHN outbreak would still have been reported under federal legislation.
The amendment to section 16 removes the gag provisions, but according to Simons, the problem remains that other sections of proposed legislation can still override the Freedom of Information laws.
Grieg Seafood first discovered IHN at its Ahlstrom Point farm on May 18 during a routine test of coho salmon stocks. Seven fish were tested, with one resulting in a low-positive result.
The company said it plans to continue performing routine tests for the disease.
We don't expect any disease at this farm coho salmon have a natural immunity, Hawthorn said.
