Source Barents Observer via Atlantic Salmon Federation
Regional veterinary authorities say that a massive fish death in the Kola Peninsula might have been triggered by an outbreak of Ulcerative Dermal Necrosis (UDN), a press release from the Murmansk government reads.
This year’s cold water in the rivers might have stimulated the outbreak, veterinarians say.
The moratorium commenced on 17 August and covers several rivers, among them the Kola, Kitsa and Tuloma river basin. Normally, the salmon fishing season in the region ends in mid-October.
“This moratorium is dictated by the need to determine the reasons and consequenses of the massive destruction of salmon in the Kola River, and to prevent spreading of the disease”, Kovtun says.
Regional media have speculated whether the extensive aquaculture activities in the Pechenga Bay could be the source of the disease. Figures from Patchwork Barents, the regional dataportal, show that fish farming in Murmansk Oblast in the period 2010-2012 increased more than three-fold from 5,2 to 16,9 thousand tons. However, company Russkoye More rebuffs all such allegations.
Read the full story HERE
