Red Spot Fears Quashed

The latest test results on further marine life samples taken from Gladstone Harbour, Australia, have confirmed a parasitic flatworm as the cause of cloudy eyes in barramundi and found no parasitic, bacterial or fungal pathogens on other species tested so far.

It is likely the skin discolouration found on the barramundi was also caused by the parasite and further tests are been undertaken.

No further cases of red spot disease have been found in testing to date. The only positive result for red spot disease has been a barramundi sample in September collected from Port Alma.

These test results confirm Fisheries Queensland officers´ observations of a continued presence of fish with cloudy eyes and skin discolouration in the area.

Due to the flooding in Queensland, fish will have been under physical stress. Since the flooding, more barramundi have been present in the area leading to competition for food. Both of these factors will have lowered the fish's ability to tolerate these parasites on their skin.

Sampling is ongoing in the area.

Low salmon prices have affected the value of Norwegian seafood exports. Although 2011 exports are already topping the 2010 record, October exports were down compared to the same month last year.

Whole fresh salmon was worth NOK 33.60 per kg earlier this year, a reduction of NOK 3.43 per kg compared to last year. Prices fell even further in October to NOK 23.43 per kg.

In Canada, salmon farmers will present their final views to the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the decline of Fraser River Sockeye.

The Inquiry was established in November 2009, with public hearings beginning in October 2010. Since then a number of topics have been examined, including aquaculture, fish biology, urbanisation, logging, hydro, changes in ocean currents and climate change.