SSPO reaction to third case of ISA detected in Shetland

In response to today’s (20th March) announcement that Fisheries Research Services (FRS) Inspectors have found the Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) virus in a third salmon farm within the control zone in south west Shetland, Scott Landsburgh, Chief Executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) said:

“As the farm is within the existing control zone and close to the other two confirmed cases, all the appropriate biosecurity precautions are already in place.

“With 33 out of 40 sites in the south west of Shetland now empty of fish, we remain confident that the virus will be contained within the control and surveillance zones.

“We continue to work closely alongside the Fisheries Research Services inspectors and key authorities to manage the situation,” said Landsburgh.

The presence of the virus does not mean that clinical disease is present. The fish tested did not show any clinical symptoms of the disease.

The ISA virus is specific to fish and does not pose any risk to humans.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Scottish salmon farming industry has been free of ISA since May 1999 and has an excellent protocol in the Code of Practice for managing this current situation.

2. As a result of the finding, FRS is now operating control procedures set out in the Code of Practice to Avoid and Minimise the Impact of ISA, which was written jointly by Scottish Government officials and the salmon farming industry in 2000.

END

For further information, contact Ken Hughes 01738 587006 / 07974 173739 or Julie Edgar 01738 587000 / 0789 987 5151.

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