Pancreatic disease reported at Mowi farms

Pancreatic disease has been detected at two Mowi salmon sites in the north of Norway, and confirmed by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Mowi will be required to empty the facilities quickly in order to avoid a spread of the infection.

Pancreatic disease (PD) is regarded as a highly contagious disease that leads to poor fish health and heavy losses for the salmon industry.

Geir Arne Ystmark, regional director of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s north region said: “The Norwegian Food Safety Authority takes the PD detection seriously. The area north of the PD zone must be kept free of the disease.”

Mowi first notified the Food Safety Authority of the suspicion in Nordland county almost two weeks ago, after an analysis result from the laboratory was positive for PD.

The authority took verifying samples a few days later. The samples were then analysed and the PD diagnosis was confirmed last Thursday.

The FSA says everyone who travels in the area or carries out activities related to fish farming must show the necessary care so that the risk of the spread of disease is reduced. It is important to quickly map the infection status in the area, it added.

Regulations on PD control require that the localities within a radius of 30 kilometres from the localities with proven PD must be followed up with extended sampling within seven days.

It is the producers themselves who will be responsible for this sampling, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has reminded them of this duty.

The Authority adds that the disease has no impact on human health, and it is safe to eat the fish.