Radiation testing underway on BC salmon
Posted August 20, 2011 2:40 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s being called a prudent measure, planned since June.
Our food inspectors will be checking to see if salmon returning to our waters were contaminated by radiation from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors.
The CFIA says tests couldn’t be done earlier because the salmon hadn’t yet returned to BC waters.
Marine biologist and activist Alexandra Morton says there’s been radiation readings in seaweed in North Vancouver so why not check the salmon. “Well, I always think it’s a good idea that we know. I mean, one way or another let’s find out if these fish have radiation in them.”
Morton also wants farmed fish tested because they’re stuck in shallow water and can’t dive. She also feels the timing of this is very political because the issue of salmon farm disease is coming up next week at the Cohen Commission.
“The CFIA, being in charge of food safety and disease, have been involved with this issue forcing farmers to report some very important diseases as of January of this year because they were concerned that there would be trade sanctions against these fish.”
Despite the concerns, Morton says this run of sockeye and other salmon on the West Coast appear to have done very well. “People are telling me there are eight and ten pound pink salmon, which is extraordinarily large. The Harrison sockeye run which goes around the bottom of Vancouver Island, apparently came back with 800,000 there, which is beyond people’s wildest imagination. “
She thinks they were expecting 300,000 fish to return. Results of the radiation testing will be posted on the CFIA’s website.
Food Inspectors say milk and other foods imported from Japan haven’t shown problems.
