VANCOUVER - Government scientists are rolling out measures for greater scrutiny of B.C.'s wild and farmed salmon stocks as they move to stem concerns over a fish virus their testing has never detected in West Coast waters.
Scientists representing the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, federal Fisheries Department and the B.C. government say an investigation into suspected infectious salmon anaemia found no confirmed cases.
Cornelius Kiley of the food inspection agency says that while the virus has never been found, a comprehensive surveillance plan will complement current efforts towards watching fish health.
Officials have scrambled to reassure those with vested interests in fish that B.C.'s Pacific salmon are untouched by the virus, which has devastated stocks in Europe and Chile.
Alarm mounted when a Simon Fraser University scientist announced what appeared to be evidence of the influenza-like bug, and other experts raised concerns about more potential cases.
Federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield says such speculation and unfounded science put Canada's reputation needlessly at risk.
