Cleaning up a virus infected industry
The New York Times reported today the deadly virus that killed off massive amounts of Chilean farmed salmon last year, is still around. An expected 30% decrease in output is expected for the 2009 season. During last year’s outbreak, the 2 billion dollar industry came under scrutiny from US consumer and environmental groups as well as the FDA. Last month, the Chilean government took further steps to clean up the troubled loosely regulated industry. A report last year by Andrea Kavanagh, manager of the Salmon Aquaculture Reform Campaign for the Pew Environment Group in Washington, found Chilean salmon farmers were using three chemicals effectively banned in the US.
In the Times article, Alexei Barrionuevo noted how, “Chilean companies have struggled to comply with the regulations of other countries, particularly as they cope with a parasitic bacteria, rickettsia, carried by sea lice, which causes infection-prone lesions”.
Since the Pew Environment Group report last year, the FDA has encouraged stricter practices to help clean up the industry, yet is still planning a “system review” this March to help Chile better manage it’s fish disease problems.
Alexei Barrionuevo’s NY Times Article
