Mowi Canada reports thousands of salmon dead at Newfoundland fish farm
10% of farmed salmon at Little Burdock Cove died, translating to about 17,000 fish
Mowi Canada East says thousands of salmon recently died at a fish farming site on Newfoundland's south coast.
The incident happened on July 20 at a marine site at Little Burdock Cove, near Rencontre East, and was reported on Monday to the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association.
According to the association's website, Mowi reported more than 10 per cent of its 176,249 fish died as part of the event — translating to at least 17,600 fish — and that it was caused by "a period of increased water temperatures in association with decreased oxygen levels."
The dead salmon have been removed from the site, the report said, and the fish remaining show no signs of higher mortality rates.
The site is also continuing its harvesting efforts, citing in the report that there are just two weeks left in the harvesting process.
CBC News asked both the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association and Mowi Canada East for interviews, but instead received emailed statements.
Gideon Pringle, Mowi Canada East's managing director, confirmed the incident was reported to the provincial government, and the issue was isolated to a single farm and quickly resolved.
The industry association declined an interview request, calling the incident an individual company matter.
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With files from The Broadcast