ISA virus again in Chilean Salmon Industry

Sernapesca decreed «an exclusion radius of 5 nautical miles, which is about 10 kilometers around and an exclusion radius for all aquaculture support vessels and all nearby centers are being inspected,».

Chiloe, Nov. 14. (Ecoceanos News)– The National Fisheries Service of Chile (Sernapesca), responsible for the health security of Chilean fisheries exports to the international market, informed that AQUACHILE company withdrew 120 thousand salmon from its cages in Chiloé that could have one of the variants of ISA VIRUS. This virus generated in 2007 another major economic, social and health crisis in the global salmon industry.

According to the Assistant Director of Aquaculture of Sernapesca, Marcela Lara Fica, «once the suspicion has been notified, the Service has activated the protocols established for these cases»

Eduardo Aguilera, Regional Director of Sernapesca, said that “there was a detection, by accredited veterinarians, of the presence of an unidentified strain of the ISA virus, and while confirmation of which strain could be treated, was arranged the harvest of the two affected cages, where there is no mortality”.

Sernapesca decreed «an exclusion radius of 5 nautical miles, which is about 10 kilometers around and an exclusion radius for all aquaculture support vessels and all nearby centers are being inspected,» added the porter, along with realize that there are two centers within that security zone (of other companies) that are being controlled, plus all the surrounding areas.