Mowi’s hatchery Northern Harvest Smolt Limited in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, culled 450,000 Atlantic salmon juveniles after detecting infectious salmon anemia (ISA). The sampling at the facility identified eight fish as positive for pathogenic ISA and six fish as positive for non-pathogenic ISA.

The investigation is continuing with further sampling. All culled fish will be transported to a facility within the province that will convert these fish into biofuel. Post-cull, the facility will undergo a disinfecting process to ensure any presence of ISA is eradicated. An enhanced program of additional testing and monitoring will continue at the facility with the involvement of regulatory authorities after the cull. The facility will remain in a state of quarantine until the quarantine is lifted by regulatory authorities.

“The suspect positive result was identified through our compliance with continuous testing protocols led by regulators. Per regulation, the suspect positive discovery was disclosed within 24 hours of detection, and in keeping with the industry’s focus on public disclosure, NHSL is now publicly announcing the ISA confirmation and our response,” the company said.