Well, you did such a fine job with that information, how about taking that information posted regarding Cermaq reporting on those “winter sores” and write another? Which btw that "could" actually be ISA disease, as until now "winter sores" has been pretty much unheard as being a problem here the Pacific Northwest?
Winter sores (Aka "winter ulcers") is:
“The disease is likely the result of both production and a bacterial infection.
“Cumulative mortality (%) of Atlantic salmon in seawater at 5, 8 or 12 °C bathchallenged with winter ulcer bacteria Moritella viscosa grown at 4, 8 or 12 °C.
“Non-optimal conditions in net cages, e.g. high fish density and poor water exchange, can make the fish more susceptible to disease.
“Tests at Fiskeriforskning have shown that healthy salmon infected with M. viscosa both develop sores and suffer mortality. Development of sores and mortality depend on the growth temperature of the bacteria, which are most virulent at low temperatures (<: 10° C) but lose this ability at 12 °C (Fig. 1). This corresponds with experiences in the industry: Outbreaks of winter ulcer are common during winter when the sea temperature is below 7 °C.
“A vaccine contains killed bacteria, and the fish’s immune system will produce antibodies and immune cells specific to the surface structures. The fish can now recognise the bacteria in the first stage of the infection and can remove them before disease develops. But if the bacteria in the vaccine differ from the infecting strain, the immune system will not recognise the bacteria and the disease can develop.
“Salmon have been vaccinated against M. viscosa since 1999, but the effect has not been optimal. We will study which surface structures the bacteria are producing under growth conditions that copy the conditions inside the fish. Such knowledge is important for developing a more efficacious vaccine.
http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/218/ulcers-that-leave-scars
That is just one out of the three Norwegian Atlantic fish farms in British Columbia that admits to their share holders they have disease issues that are being exposed to every passing migrating wild salmon. FYI… it has also been reported “winter sores” is spread and is highly contagious.
The #2 of three Norwegians fish farms, Marine Harvest is telling their investors this, in Marine Harvest 2011 Annual Report:
Marine Harvest Canada (Farming and Sales)
Operational challenges continued in Marine Harvest Canada in 2011, and several initiatives were therefore initiated to improve operational improvement going forward. The measures taken include Kudoa avoidance, attempting to mitigate the negative impact of the parasite Kudoa thyrsites causing soft flesh in harvested salmon, a seawater growth improvement plan, and the restructuring plan. The growth improvement plan implies implementation of best practices in general and introduction of revised feeding regimes. The restructuring plan will concentrate production at the best performing sites.
Operating revenues for Marine Harvest Canada were NO K 1 182 million in 2011 (NO K 1 371 million). The average price achieved in CAD was 11% lower than in 2010 due to high
presence of Kudoa combined with a general reduction in the market price. Total costs related to discards and claims as a result of soft flesh (Kudoa), amounted to NO K 68 million/NO K 2.00 per kilo harvested in 2011 (NO K 24 million/0.72 per kilo harvested). The harvested volume was 33 917 tonnes gutted weight (33 576 tonnes), while the superior share was low at 78% due to maturation/reduced flesh colour and bruises (80%). The quality of the harvested fish significantly improved towards the end of 2011, when previous actions taken to improve quality started to materialize in the reported figures.
Operational EBI T for the combined Farming and Sales activities in Canada was NO K 25 million in 2011 (NO K 223 million). The Sales activities contributed with an operational EBI T of NO K 10 million in the period 1 april to 31 December. Compared to 2010, all sales from Canada into the US market have been handled by the US sales organisation in Miami.
During 2011, Marine Harvest Canada started operations of its new recirculation freshwater site to facilitate production of smolt at a lower cost under stable conditions.
The average monthly mortality rate was 0.52% in 2011 (0.42%). Seawater growth improved compared to 2010 as a result of the growth improvement actions taken, but the unit still faces challenges in periods of low dissolved oxygen levels in the water.
Marine Harvest Canada
a challenging year for marine Harvest canada due to high costs and
issues related to soft flesh (Kudoa). a restructuring plan has been initiated and measures are taken to improve the operations in 2012.
Restructuring of operations in Canada
As the results from Marine Harvests Canadian operations have been disappointing for some time, a restructuring plan was completed in the fourth quarter with implementation commencing in the period. The restructuring plan will concentrate production at the best performing sites. The restructuring plan combined with the Kudoa mitigation plan and implementation of farming best practices is expected to reduce costs and improve the performance in Canada from the second half of 2012. The restructuring plan resulted in
restructuring costs in the amount of NO K 23 million and asset write down of NO K 54 million, all recognised in the year.
Price Achievement
The overall price achievement was good in 2011 as contract sales were above the reference price level in the various regions, while the cost of quality downgrading was limited (except Kudoa effects in Canada). The superior share ranged from 87% to 95% for the farming units excluding Canada.
Salmon of Canadian origin did not achieve prices above the reference level in the period due to the effects of soft flesh (Kudoa) contributing to claims and reduced selling prices.
http://hugin.info/209/R/1608160/510268.pdf
Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) has actually been spreading “Kudoa (soft flesh disease) which is a horizontal transferred disease to wild salmon for YEARS! What is worse… YOU are flipping the bill!
If you check DFO grants, you will find Canada grants these companies to study the diseases through AIMAP program.
Then you will also find this addressing Kudoa in Marine Harvest 2009 Annual Report:
Marine Harvest predominantly harvested fish from the Campbell River area, an area that has been negatively affected by soft flesh caused by the parasite Kudoa thyrsites.
For Marine Harvest Canada, the 2009 profit was affected by exceptional customer claims and discards at harvest of NOK 63.0 million due to the parasite Kudoa thyrsites.
In Canada, research and development efforts have in 2009 been focused on Kudoa and the
company has received public funding to support the programs.
http://hugin.info/209/R/1410306/362844.pdf
In fairness, Kudoa Thyrsites is a disease that wasn’t brought here by the Norwegians; however, they certainly are amplifying and spreading it. Remember that the next time your salmon doesn’t look or taste quite right, seems to have “soft flesh” it probably has Kudoa via those Campbell River fish farms. I hate to even guess how many MILLIONS of dollars Canada (and BC) have spent and given the Norwegian fish farms for that one? If you search “kudoa” on the DFO website, it only comes up with 10 pages of results!
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/search-rec...D:10;NB:1&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=kudoa&sa=Search
These two might be of interest:
JELLIED" FLESH IN FARMED ATLANTIC SALMON
December 27. 1990
We have recently observed soft and poor quality flesh in samples of pen-reared Atlantic salmon. These fish were found to be infected with the microscopic, spore-producing, protozoan parasite Kudo. Thyrsites (Myxozoa: Myxosporea). This condition was seen in fish from a site in British Columbia and another in Washington State. Subsequent reports indicate that infection of penreared Atlantic salmon by K. thyrsites is more widespread, in both B.C. and Washington State, than was originally thought. Infected fish were observed
to have areas, sometimes extensive, of soft, whitish (“jellied”) flesh. This condition has been seen in both fresh and smoked product. Although K. thyrsites is not a risk to human health, the unaesthetic appearance of such fish is not acceptable in the marketplace.
Kudoa Thyrsites is one of two species of Kudoa that have been recorded infecting the musculature of several different marine fishes along the west coast of North America. It is associated with soft flesh problems in Pacific hake (= Pacific whiting), and has been the subject of investigation for a number of years…..
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/338102.pdf
Now after all those years of research I would have to question why the government of Canada and British Columbia would fund a study to be done by Marine Harvest. Would that be just a transfer of money to appease - under the guise of a study?
Project Lead: Marine Harvest Canada Inc.
Total Project Cost: $270,816
DFO-AIMAP Contribution: $142,500
Other Financial Support:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/back-fiche/2010/hq-ac33a-eng.htm
