If Lethal Salmon Parasite Reaches Scottish Rivers, All Fish In Them May Have To Be Killed

[hatrack]

ENTIRE rivers may have to be cleared of salmon if a lethal parasite becomes established in Scotland, it was disclosed yesterday.
The parasite, Gyrodactylus salaris, has wiped out huge numbers of salmon in Norway and has no known treatment.

Scotland has so far remained free from the infestation, but if it appears here then the country's £60 million salmon industry could be devastated. Rivers may have to be eradicated of fish capable of hosting the parasite, according to a plan published yesterday by the Scottish Government.

The freshwater parasite of Atlantic salmon came to Norway in the 1970s through the import of live fish. By 2002, more than 40 Norwegian rivers had been infected and losses have been estimated at more than 40 per cent of the total reported catch of wild salmon.

More than 20 Norwegian rivers have been treated by killing all fish capable of harbouring the parasite and then restocking the rivers with eggs removed before the chemical treatment.

EDIT

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Lethal-parasite-could-mean-clearing.3980663.jp