ISA suspected in a fish at Benchmark breeding site
Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is suspected at a key breeding centre in Norway where Benchmark Genetics has a facility.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is testing samples from the site 60 miles south of Narvik, which is one of the world’s most advanced land based facilities for the production of salmon ova. Only a few weeks ago ova from Salten became large smolt in record time.
On Tuesday, Benchmark was informed by the laboratory Pharmaq Analytiq that samples from a single fish had been confirmed as positive for ISA.
The Food Safety Authority said that it plans an immediate inspection of the facility to take follow up samples so the Veterinary Institute can confirm whether the disease is present.
The Authority adds that in order to limit the spread of infection, restrictions have been imposed on the site, including a ban on moving fish, ova and sperm without special permission.
This means that almost normal operation in parts of the facility can continue to the extent that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority deems it safe in terms of contamination.
A restriction area usually consists of a protection zone and a monitoring zone and it will entail restrictions, among other things, on traffic in the area around the site.
If the suspicion is confirmed, the Authority can order the emptying of all part of the premises.
The Food Safety Authority confirmed 18 cases of ISA spread over five countries and seven production areas last year – three more than in 2022, but seven fewer than in 2021. However, there were also five suspected cases last year that were not confirmed.
