Question Period Note: Whirling Disease

• Our Government understands the importance of protecting the health of Canada’s aquatic resources and our multi-billion dollar export market in fish and seafood products.
• We are aware that Whirling Disease does not affect human health, but can cause high mortality in susceptible fish species.
• Measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of further spread such as controlling the movement of fish from infected areas.
• We will continue to work closely with our provincial partners to establish the extent of Whirling Disease and to protect Canada’s resources.

• Whirling Disease does not affect human health, but can cause high mortality in susceptible fish species. It is caused by the parasite, Myxobolus cerebralis, which infects a variety of trout species including, but not limited to, Rainbow trout, Brook trout, and Cutthroat trout. Young fish are most susceptible to infection.
• The parasite spreads via human activities that move infected water or sediments and via the survival of the parasite in the digestive system of birds and mammals.
• The parasite is well established in many states in the United States, including Alaska, and was introduced from Europe. It also occurs in South Africa, Columbia, Russia, and some European countries (such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway). It is not known how and when the parasite was introduced to Alberta.
• There is no treatment for Whirling Disease, but the parasite can be controlled, where possible, by restricting the transport of fish from infected to uninfected areas; proper disposal of fish entrails and other by-products; and thorough cleaning of boats, equipment, waders, boots, etc. In the United States where the mortality rate in affected trout populations can be as high as 90%, management strategies implemented to minimize the spread of the disease since eradication efforts have been unsuccessful.
DFO’s role / Whirling Disease in Canada
• Canada’s National Aquatic Animal Health Program is co-delivered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). CFIA is the program lead and develops regulations and implements surveillance plans. DFO provides diagnostic testing services and research.
• On 8 August, 2016, Parks Canada became aware of preliminary test results from British Columbia’s Ministry of Agriculture (Animal Health Centre) indicating the presence of the parasite responsible for Whirling Disease in wild trout collected from Johnson Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta.
• DFO confirmed the preliminary results for CFIA, thus confirming the first case of Whirling Disease in Canada. Additional testing in 2017 confirmed the presence of Whirling Disease in other Alberta watersheds including the Bow, the Oldman, the North Saskatchewan and the Red Deer.

• Watersheds outside of the infected areas in Alberta have been declared a buffer area (an area where disease may occur because of its link to an infected area). This status remains unchanged from March 9, 2018.
 The impact of this zoning declaration is that a CFIA domestic movement permit is required if a potential disease source (e.g., fish) is moving: 1) from an infected area to a buffer area or disease free area, 2) from one buffer area to another buffer area or disease free area, or 3) from a provisionally disease-free area to declared disease free area.
 As well, any international trade (import or export) of susceptible species may require additional certification by CFIA.
• Testing for the disease continues to be conducted by DFO in response to requests by CFIA to support monitoring or domestic movement decisions. DFO has also been working with the Alberta Government to help prevent the spread of Whirling Disease. Specifically, all our Fisheries Act authorization and Letters of Advice in Alberta speak to the disease and provide direction on preventing its spread.

None