Laurie HamelinAPTN NewsFootage of effluent spewing into the ocean from pipes at two farmed fish processing plants on Vancouver Island went viral last November.At issue was whether piscine reovirus, also known as PRV, was in that effluent.It is a potentially deadly virus that has been linked to heart and skeletal muscle inflammation in farmed fish.Alexandra Morton is an independent scientist that’s been warning First Nations and the government that PRV is a threat to wild salmon.”It’s heart failure for wild fish,” said Morton. “A wild fish has to be a supreme athlete every single day of the year to catch food, to escape killer whales, escape sea lions.”Testing on the effluent came back positive but according to the BC Salmon Farmers Association that isn’t surprising.”PRV is known to be carried in the blood of some salmon. It is quite prevalent on salmon farms,” said Jeremy Dunn, spokesperson for the association.”That hasn’t been a virus of concern from a waste water treatment perspective. The science to date would suggest that this virus is relatively harmless.”The province says it’s committed to protecting wild salmon and are reviewing fish processing plants.“British Columbians expect their government to ensure any discharge into the water is safe, and does not threaten wild salmon,” said George Heyman, minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in a statement.lhamelin.ca
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Alexandra Morton has issued a public debate to the salmon farming industry on whether the science shows that Piscine Reovirus is indeed harmful to wild salmon…She said they can bring what ever scientist/scientists they want and it’s just her against all of them….she’s gotten over 4,000 signatures in a couple of days by others who would like to see this debate happen…while the industry claims it’s harmless, they still haven’t responded to her challenge…their silence on this issue is very telling indeed. Here is her petition video..https://www.facebook.com/alexandra.morton.1671/posts/2159243727637510?pnref=story.unseen-section
Alexandra Morton has issued a public debate to the salmon farming industry on whether the science shows that Piscine Reovirus is indeed harmful to wild salmon…She said they can bring what ever scientist/scientists they want and it’s just her against all of them….she’s gotten over 4,000 signatures in a couple of days by others who would like to see this debate happen…while the industry claims it’s harmless, they still haven’t responded to her challenge…their silence on this issue is very telling indeed. Here is her petition video..https://www.facebook.com/alexandra.morton.1671/posts/2159243727637510?pnref=story.unseen-section