Terms of Reference

Assessment of the risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon due to Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV) transfer from Atlantic salmon farms located in the Discovery Islands area, British Columbia

National Peer Review - National Capital Region and Pacific Region

January 28-30, 2019
Vancouver, BC

Chairpersons: Gilles Olivier and Craig Stephen

Context

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), under the Sustainable Aquaculture Program, is committed to deliver environmental risk assessments to support science-based decision making related to aquaculture activities. The Aquaculture Science Environmental Risk Assessment Initiative was implemented to assess the risks of aquaculture activities to wild fish and the environment. The risks associated with each environmental stressor validated in the Pathways of effects for finfish and shellfish aquaculture (DFO, 2010) will be assessed as per the Aquaculture Science Environmental Risk Assessment Framework ensuring a systematic, consistent and transparent process.

The first series of risk assessments to be conducted under the initiative will focus on the pathway related to the release of pathogens, and regionally focusing on Atlantic salmon aquaculture activities in the Discovery Islands area of British Columbia. The risks associated with other environmental stressors resulting from aquaculture activities will be assessed in future processes.

DFO’s Aquaculture Management Directorate has requested CSAS advice on the risks to Fraser River sockeye salmon due to pathogen transfer from marine Atlantic salmon farms located in the Discovery Islands area in British Columbia. This request supports DFO’s role in the management of aquaculture in British Columbia and aligns with recommendations in the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River, including recommendations 18 and 19 on risks to wild fish populations related to pathogen transfer from farms and other fish health related recommendations (Cohen, 2012).

The advice will be provided through a series of pathogen transfer risk assessments; this sixth risk assessment is focusing on Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV).

The risks associated with other pathogens also known to cause disease and detected on marine Atlantic salmon farms in the Discovery Islands area will be assessed in subsequent processes, including a synthesis of all assessed pathogens.

Objective

The objective of the meeting is to provide advice on the risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon due to PRV transfer from Atlantic salmon farms located in the Discovery Islands area of British Columbia.
The science advice will include a review of all the scientific knowledge, as summarized in the working paper, related to the characteristics of pathogen infection and disease, susceptibility, prevalence and infection dynamics, and in particular for British Columbia for:  

• Piscine Orthoreovirusand associated pathology (Working Paper 1);

Based on this scientific knowledge, the science advice will also include:

• a review of the qualitative Environmental Risk Assessment on Fraser River sockeye salmon abundance and diversity due to PRV transfer from Atlantic salmon farms located in the Discovery Islands area (Working Paper 2);
• a review of the uncertainties associated with the estimation of the risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon abundance and diversity (Working Paper 2); and
• if risk assessment outcomes warrant, provide advice on additional measures that would reduce the risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon abundance and diversity due to PRV transfer from Atlantic salmon farms in the Discovery Islands area.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Research Documents:
1. Characterization of Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV)and associated pathology
2. Qualitative environmental risk assessment of Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV) transfer from Discovery Islands Atlantic salmon farms to Fraser River sockeye salmon
• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Aquaculture Management (NCR and Pacific); Ecosystems and Oceans Science; and Ecosystem and Fisheries Management (Pacific)
• Indigenous Nations
• Academia
• Aquaculture industry
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• Environmental non-government organizations
• Ministry of Agriculture, Province of British Columbia

References

Cohen, B. I. 2012. Recommendations, summary, process. In The uncertain future of Fraser River sockeye. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Publishing and Depository Services, Ottawa, ON. Vol 3: 211 p.

DFO. 2010. Pathways of effects for finfish and shellfish aquaculture. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/071. 22 p.