Disease kills 125,000 salmon on Lewis fish farm
20 Oct 2017
Some 125,000 salmon have been killed by disease in a Lewis sealoch.
Over 500 tonnes of dead fish have been removed from Marine Harvest’s farms in Loch Erisort following an attack of pasteurella skyensis.
The relatively new infection strain is named after the Isle of Skye where it was first discovered.
Affected fish stop feeding and can die within weeks.
Antibiotics are used to try and combat the spread of infection and reduce losses.
For weeks lorries have been trucking away loads of dead fish from the sites.
The morts are being transported anaerobic digester in the central belt which recycles fish waste into fertiliser.
Steve Bracken, Marin Harvest’s business support manager, said the company has “challenges” in Loch Erisort.
He said: “We do have a problem there and are doing the best we can to overcome the challenges we have.”
He added: “This happens from time to time. We can have good years and bad years -
Mr Bracken said: “Our vet believes it is pasteurella skyensis although we are awaiting final confirmation from the laboratory results.
“We would like to reassure local people that this infection only affects fish and is completely harmless to humans.