THE Scottish Government has denied placing salmon stocks at risk amidst fears of contamination as egg imports from Norway resume.

A temporary bar on bringing in salmon and trout ova came into force in June 2019 over concerns about the chances of importing infectious salmon anaemia (ISA).

There are no treatments or licensed vaccines for the killer condition in the EU and while Scotland has seen two prior outbreaks, water-borne ISA – which is also spread by the movement of live fish and discharge of untreated blood – was eradicated both times. Scotland’s big-money salmon farms have drawn ova for their stocks from industry leader Norway for years, but the practice was paused by ministers last summer.

However, data released through Freedom of Information shows it resumed in April, despite an increasing number of ISA outbreaks in Norway.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has confirmed 16 cases and reported several suspected outbreaks this year so far – 60% up on the entire number for 2019. Ole Bendick Dale, of the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, told industry platform Intrafish that authorities must be “vigilant” to the new strains emerging or “see a horror show with a large spread of ISA infection”.

Ova consignments were brought in during the spring for two facilities on Mull and Orkney.

Now campaigners are calling for the immediate testing of imports and quarantine of hatcheries to guard against ISA in Scottish waters.

Scottish Salmon Watch has written to the Scottish and UK governments calling for a ban on ova imports and the introduction of “strict biosecurity measures”.

Director Don Staniford said: “Whilst Norway continues to ban imports of Scottish salmon eggs due to disease and genetic risks, the Scottish Government is recklessly resuming imports from Norway where salmon farms are being plagued by ISA.

“If the Covid crisis has taught us anything it is that closing borders is vital in stemming the spread of infectious diseases, viruses and pathogens. Hatcheries using imported eggs should be quarantined until they can prove they’re free of deadly viruses.”

However, the Scottish Government said it is working in accordance with international standards.

A spokesperson said: “All imports of salmon ova to Scotland are carried out in accordance with well-established rules laid out in EU and Scottish legislation, as well as in internationally agreed standards, to minimise the risk of cross contamination and disease. We rigorously enforce these rules to protect the world-class standard of Scottish farmed salmon.

“Following a temporary suspension of the imports of ova from Norway in 2019, specific areas have been allowed to resume trading, from March 2020, following approval from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.”