Failing to test for a fatal disease has landed the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in a bit of hot water.
In September, biologist Alexandra Morton teamed up with the ‘Namgis First Nation to sue the Ministry.
Morton claimed, in the suit, that salmon were being introduced in to open pens without being tested for piscine orthoreovirus, or PRV.
PRV can cause inflammation in the heart and muscle tissue of infected fish.
Yesterday, the Federal Court released a ruling agreeing with the suit, calling the DFO’s practice unlawful.
According to the DFO’s mandate, a license to transfer salmon can only be issued if the transfered fish do not have any disease or a disease agent.
Since PRV has not been tested for under their current policy, the DFO will now have to either challenge the court ruling, or hit the drawing board to develop a new policy.
