Disease is part of the natural world. In cattle we have long had TB, then BSE. There are questions and scares about the health of chickens reared intensively. But, often in recent years, there has been reporting on the state of the salmon farming industry. Let it be said that there is no evidence that any disease that afflicts farmed salmon could be transferred to a human being, but the insistent stories of this or that outbreak of disease in other countries makes you wonder how our own industry is affected. Prof Graham Shaw, Chairman of SOS (Save Our Sea-trout), has sent a press statement from the Scottish Executive, which, in announcing a review of the current controls system on infectious salmon anaemia, has already closed down fish farms suspected of harbouring the disease. Mr John Home Robertson repeats that, while the disease will have no implications for human health, the virus can be found in wild fish sampled, including sea-trout and, indeed, eels in Lough Disk, Mull. Even more species, says the press release, may be affected, including brown trout in two named rivers, and Atlantic parr in three, including the Tweed. This disease is notifiable and, as a result, requires eradication. A hard decision, for fish farmers are often, if not usually, in areas of little other employment. In all, 24 farms in Scotland have been suspected of the disease over 18 months and all but three have been cleared of fish. Eleven other sites have been likewise declared infected, and five are back in production. Salmon farms in Norway and Canada have been affected, too, and in Canada the virus (but not the disease, says the press release) has recently been found in wild salmon. And the Highlands and Islands Enterprise have available £9 million over three years to assist fish farmers directly affected.
If the disease poses no threat to human health, it surely does pose a threat to the wild Atlantic salmon. And this is of some concern, and not only to anglers. For it could seriously bear on our valuable tourist industry. Not only anglers, but all of us, would be losing a creature of great beauty from our lives. That is the very pessimistic view. Be sure our Government is aware of the threat (or scare) and will be taking steps. That is a precious invasion from the sea that comes up our rivers in late autumn. We must cherish it. Y