Application of a tidal circulation model for fish health management of salmon farms in the Grand Manan Island area, Bay of Fundy.

摘要

One mechanism that may facilitate the spread of viral diseases among salmon farms is waterborne transport of the virus. In Norway and Scotland, disease spread is managed by using hydrographically-defined control and surveillance zones, based on one tidal excursion around farms. We investigated the application of similar zones for the management of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) among salmon farms in the southern Grand Manan Island area in the Bay of Fundy. We estimated tidal excursions around farms using two approaches: a simple method based on 5-km radius circles around farms and a more complex method using a 3-dimensional tidal water circulation and particle transport model. Using both methods, we determined the overlaps of the predicted control zones with farm sites and with control zones of farms in the area. We also examined the potential for waterborne disease spread between farms in the southern and eastern areas of Grand Manan Island..