Revealed: Infectious Salmon Anaemia Lurking in Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

As Infectious Salmon Anaemia continues to spread around the world – with recent cases in Norway and Canada and suspected for the first time in Iceland – a Freedom of Information reply published online by the Scottish Government on 3 November 2021 reveals that 7% of Scottish farmed salmon sampled between 2002 and 2012 tested positive for Infectious Salmon Anaemia.  That's 396 ISA positives out of 5,395 samples.  

 

ISA photo

 

"Infectious Salmon Anaemia has been lurking on salmon farms in Scotland for over twenty years," said Don Staniford of Scottish Salmon Watch who today wrote to Scottish Ministers.  "In view of the increasing spread of ISA in Norway, Canada and now in Iceland, the Scottish Government must close the border to imports of salmon eggs (ova).  Peer-reviewed science has shown that ISA can spread to farmed salmon via infected ova – so-called vertical transmission.   Importing tens of millions of ova from Iceland, Ireland and Norway to on-grow on 'Scottish' salmon farms represents an unacceptable risk to biodiversity and biosecurity.  In order to protect the genetic integrity of Scotland's iconic Atlantic salmon, all farmed salmon including ova and smolts should be screened for ISA, Piscine Reovirus and other viruses, diseases and pathogens.  The positive case of ISA virus at Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Spelve in May 2021 could be just the tip of a very large iceberg."

 

ISA photo #2

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch has now asked the Scottish Government to disclose collated data from 2013 to 2021 (the Scottish Government's FOI disclosure refuses to provide a breakdown of ISA cases since 2012) which includes an ISA positive case from Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Spelve reported in May 2021.  

 

 

 

 

Others companies operating in Scotland such as Cooke Aquaculture, Grieg Seafood and Mowi are experiencing ISA problems at their salmon farming operations in Norway and Canada. 

 

 

 

 

 

The FOI disclosure was published online by the Scottish Government on 3 November 2021:

 

ISA FOI reply SG 3 Nov 2021 #1

 

 

An Excel spreadsheet was posted online by the Scottish Government via FOI – 202100234467 – Information Released – Annex – including 396 positive tests for ISA out of 5,395 samples (that's 7%):

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #4 ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #5 ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #6

 

Here's a summary by year:

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #7 summary table

 

 

And here's a summary of the results from various ISA tests:

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #1

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #2

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #3

 

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #4

 

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #5

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #6

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #7

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #8

 

ISA FOI SG reply 1 Oct 2021 Excel #8 ISA types #9

 

 

A Marine Scotland 'topic sheet' published in 2016 provides more information on the diagnosis of ISA:

 

ISA Topic Sheet 2016 #1

ISA Topic Sheet 2016 #2

 

 

ISA Topic Sheet 2016 #3 ISA Topic Sheet 2016 #4

 

 

Further information is available via the World Organization for Animal Health's 'Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals 2021':

 

OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests 2021

Infection with HRP-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus (version adopted in May 2018)

OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests 2021 #2

 

Read more from the World Organization for Animal Health via Infectious Salmon Anaemia

 

 

 

Here's a poster published by the Scottish Government on ISA:

 

ISA factsheet #1 ISA factsheet #2 ISA factsheet #3

 

 

 

Here's the FOI reply from the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch dated 1 October 2021:

ISA FOI reply SG 1 October 2021 #1 ISA FOI reply SG 1 October 2021 #2

ISA FOI reply SG 1 October 2021 #3 ISA FOI reply SG 1 October 2021 #4

ISA FOI reply SG 1 October 2021 #5

Download letter in full as a PDF online here

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in September 2021:

 

 

 

ISA fine in Norway Sept 2021 #1

ISA fine in Norway Sept 2021 #2

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in August 2021:

 

 

PR ISA in Loch Spelve 30 August 2021 Tweet #1

PR ISA in Loch Spelve 30 August 2021 Tweet #2 photos

PR ISA in Loch Spelve 30 August 2021 Tweet #3

 

 

 

 

 

 

In July 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch asked if ISA was back again in Scotland:

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch asked in August 2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

 

 

 

Appendix:

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 2, 2021 at 6:04 AM
Subject: FOI re. ISA in Scottish salmon since 1 January 2013
To: <CEU@gov.scot>
Cc: <Neil.Purvis@gov.scot>
 
Further to FOI/202100234467 replied to by the Scottish Government on 1 October 2021 and published online on 1 November 2021, please provide information on Infectious Salmon Anaemia in Scottish salmon since 1 January 2013.
 
As context, the Scottish Government's reply via FOI/202100234467 on 1 October 2021 included:
 
Sample information is provided to you in the attached spreadsheet, as per your request at parts 2 and 5. This includes the number of positive and negative results for ISA across all sites, currently registered as farming Atlantic salmon, for the period 01/01/2002 through to 31/12/2012. Data from 01/01/13 onwards is actively published on the Scottish Government website and is contained within the aquatic animal health surveillance information from obtained through inspections undertaken by the Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate: https://www.gov.scot/collections/publication-of-fish-health-inspectorate-information/
 
 
Please provide information for 2013 to 2021 in the same format as the Excel spreadsheet detailing ISA tests and results for 2002 to 2012 via FOI – 202100234467 – Information Released – Annex
 
 
If this information is not available in the same format please provide site specific details of ISA positive cases since 1 January 2013.  Please provide information including raw test results, emails, letters, photos and any other data on ISA in Scottish salmon since 1 January 2013.
 
Please include any correspondence with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), EFTA, DEFRA, salmon farming companies and any other parties in relation to ISA in farmed salmon since 1 January 2013 (above and beyond any information which is contained via https://www.gov.scot/collections/publication-of-fish-health-inspectorate-information/).  
 
Please consider this an official request for information under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
 
Please provide the information electronically.
 
Please provide a receipt for this FOI request.
 
Thanks,
 
Don Staniford
 
Director, Scottish Salmon Watch
 
 
 
 
From: <casehandling.service@gov.scot>
Date: Fri, Oct 1, 2021 at 2:42 PM
Subject: Your recent correspondence with Scottish Government and partner agencies – 202100234467
To: <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
 
Please find attached a response to your correspondence.

 

FOI attachments

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 7:01 PM
Subject: Re: Clarification of FoI 202100234467
To: <Neil.Purvis@gov.scot>
 
Thanks – sounds reasonable.

 
Don
 

From: <Neil.Purvis@gov.scot>
Date: Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 6:23 PM
Subject: Clarification of FoI 202100234467
To: <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Dear Don

I refer to your response to my clarification request concerning FoI 202100234467 regarding the subject area of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus. As you have confirmed we will include ova within the subject area of point 2.

You failed to respond to two specific parts of the clarification I sent to you. Specifically:

  • A timescale associated with point 1 – in the absence of any communication from you on this I will assume this to be from the date the request was received back to the start of the year 2002.
  • The specific details associated with the request for ‘details of any extended surveillance of Scottish salmon farms for the ISA virus’ – in the absence of this I will handle this part of your request only in relation to the example you have given (amended to include the subject area of ova) – For example, how many samples of farmed salmon (in both hatcheries and sea farms) have been tested annually by the Scottish Government since 2002 and how many samples of farmed salmon have tested positive for ISA (including both HPR0 ISAV and HPR-deleted ISAV)?

I have attached the clarification communication and your response to the same, for your reference in relation to the points referred to within this email.

If your request goes beyond my interpretation, as detailed above, then you must tell me specifically the information you require.

Thank you.

Neil

Neil Purvis
Marine Scotland – Science
Scottish Government | Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101| 375, Victoria Road | Aberdeen AB11 9DB
Tel: +44 (0)131 244 3287
S/B: +44 (0)131 244 2500
Mob:+44 (0)777 5818 281
Fax: +44 (0)1224 295620
e: neil.purvis@gov.scot
w: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland

 

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Sep 4, 2021 at 3:21 AM
Subject: Re: Your recent correspondence with Scottish Government and partner agencies – 202100234467 – [ClarificationEIR/202100234467/2847] – Do Not Delete
To: <casehandling.service@gov.scot>
 
Neil,
 
Thanks – yes, I concur that point 2 covers the same ground as point 1 minus the ova.  Please therefore add ova to cover point 2.
 
Is that clear?
 
Don
 
 
 
 
From: <casehandling.service@gov.scot>
Date: Sat, Sep 4, 2021 at 12:35 AM
Subject: Your recent correspondence with Scottish Government and partner agencies – 202100234467 – [ClarificationEIR/202100234467/2847] – Do Not Delete
To: <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Please find attached a response to your correspondence.
 
 
ISA FOI SG clarification 3 Sept 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 30, 2021 at 6:47 AM
Subject: ISA in Scottish Farmed Salmon – letter to Scottish Ministers & FOI request
To: <scottish.ministers@gov.scot>
Cc: Gougeon M (Mairi), MSP <Mairi.Gougeon.msp@parliament.scot>, <Mairi.McAllan.msp@parliament.scot>, <directormarinescotland@gov.scot>, <Charles.Allan@gov.scot>, <MS.fishhealth@gov.scot>, <sandy.murray@gov.scot>, <marinescotland@gov.scot>, Burgess A (Ariane), MSP <Ariane.Burgess.msp@parliament.scot>, Ruskell M (Mark), MSP <Mark.Ruskell.msp@parliament.scot>, MSP <Alex.Rowley.msp@parliament.scot>, Beamish C (Claudia), MSP <Claudia.Beamish.msp@parliament.scot>, Mountain E (Edward), MSP <Edward.Mountain.msp@parliament.scot>

 

Further to the positive test for Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus at Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Spelve in May (as reported by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate via 'Case Information' published online earlier this month) what action is the Scottish Government taking to stop the spread of deadly ISA?  What other salmon farms are affected and how many other positive cases have been detected?

 

 

PR ISA in Loch Spelve 30 August 2021 Tweet #1

PR ISA in Loch Spelve 30 August 2021 Tweet #2 photos

PR ISA in Loch Spelve 30 August 2021 Tweet #3

This is believed to be the first time ISA has been publicly reported in Scotland since an outbreak at Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms and Grieg Seafood in Shetland in 2009.  In 1998-9, an ISA outbreak in mainland Scotland (traced back to Scottish Sea Farms – formerly known as Hydro Seafoods GSP – in Loch Nevis and then spreading to Loch Creran, the Sound of Mull, Loch Linnhe, Kerrera, Lismore, Shuna and Loch Spelve) cost £100 and led to the loss of 200 jobs. 

 

 

Please provide data on the number of positive results for ISA (including both HPR0 ISAV and HPR-deleted ISAV) in farmed salmon in hatcheries and sea farms as well as imported and domestically produced ova.  Please detail any actions being taken by the Scottish Government to deal with the ISA problem in Scotland. 

 

 

Please note the recommendations of a report published by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2002 in the wake of the 1998-9 ISA outbreak in Scotland:

 

image.png

 

 

 

Please therefore provide details of any “extended surveillance of Scottish salmon farms for the ISA virus”.  For example, how many samples of farmed salmon (in both hatcheries and sea farms) have been tested annually by the Scottish Government since 2002 and how many samples of farmed salmon have tested positive for ISA (including both HPR0 ISAV and HPR-deleted ISAV)?

 

If the “extended surveillance of Scottish salmon farms for the ISA virus” failed to materialize please provide information on any testing by salmon farming companies including Scottish Sea Farms, Mowi, The Scottish Salmon Company, Grieg Seafood, Cooke, Loch Duart and Organic Sea Harvest (the foreign owned/controlled companies who together account for 99% of ‘Scottish’ salmon farming production).  

 

Please also provide information on any scientific studies into the spread of ISA and the presence of ISA (both HPR0 ISAV and HPR-deleted ISAV) in farmed salmon in Scotland.  Please note that the authors of a 2017 scientific paper – “First field evidence of the evolution from a non-virulent HPR0 to a virulent HPR-deleted infectious salmon anaemia virus” – conducted the experiments in Aberdeen at Marine Scotland Science. 

 

Please consider this an official request for information under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.

 

 

 

A letter addressed to Scottish Ministers is available in full via: Letter to Scottish Ministers re. ISA in Scottish Salmon
 
 
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