The problem of protecting populations of anadromous Atlantic salmon from the spread of the parasite has become extremely important in all countries of the North-East Atlantic in connection with the development of aquaculture. This freshwater parasite came to Norway in the 1970s while transporting live rainbow trout from Sweden, and its spread led to the death of natural populations of Atlantic salmon in 50 rivers.
In the Murmansk region, it was first discovered among the Atlantic salmon whitebait in the salmon rivers of the basin of the Lower Tulomsky reservoir in 2015. The source of infection is the rainbow trout that has left the cages, it was brought from Karelia for aquaculture farms located in the reservoir. There is a high risk of this parasite spreading to the nearby Kola River.
During the meeting of the Working Group, programs for the monitoring and destruction of Gyrodactylus salaris in different countries were considered, as well as information was exchanged on research and national measures aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of the parasite.
«The Roadmap» on cooperation in monitoring and scientific research, measures to prevent the spread of Gyrodactylus salaris and its destruction in infected rivers, developed by the Working Group and approved at the meeting of the NASCO Commission for the North-East Atlantic in 2018, is the basis for the development of emergency plans by the NASCO member countries to combat the spread of the parasite.
Press Service VNIRO