A recent study by the Pacific Salmon Foundation revealed a higher prevalence of viral heart disease, known as heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), in open-net salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia. The research found HSMI in five out of seven salmon farms in the region, with the disease-causing virus, piscine orthoreovirus (PRV), posing a risk of spreading to wild fish in the surrounding waters.
Lead author Emiliano Di Cicco emphasized that the actual occurrence of the disease is significantly more widespread than previously believed. Previous research in 2017 identified HSMI in one out of four farms, indicating a clear pattern of infection across multiple farms.
The study examined 749 salmon across the farms, with nearly seven percent showing signs of HSMI. While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in British Columbia currently classifies PRV as non-pathogenic, Di Cicco urged reclassification to acknowledge its disease-causing potential. He also highlighted the need for standardized diagnostic criteria for detecting HSMI, aligning with international standards.
DFO stated it would review the study findings to inform future actions, emphasizing the importance of scientific rigor in diagnostic criteria. Meanwhile, the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association refrained from immediate comment but previously dismissed concerns about PRV as “fearmongering,” describing the virus as common and relatively benign.
Collaborating with Indigenous communities, the study highlighted the deep connection between salmon and coastal Indigenous people in B.C. First Nations leaders expressed concerns over the impact of open-net pen salmon farms on salmon populations and the surrounding ecosystem, calling for greater protection and conservation efforts.
