Criticism of the environmental practices of Chilean salmon farms has spiked once again as the industry struggles to cope with a severe slowdown related to the outbreak last year of a water-borne virus called infectious salmon anemia, or ISA. Since it was detected here last July, the virus, which poses no risk to humans, has spread rapidly among Chilean salmon farms and is causing salmon deaths on a worrisome scale. One million infected fish were killed as a precautionary measure after ISA was first found last year on four salmon farms, but the virus continued making inroads. Sernapesca, Chile’s fishing agency, says that as of April 8, the virus had affected 21 salmon farms, including three far south in Patagonia’s Aysén region. In addition... [Log in to read more]