Ottawa, May 6, 2024 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of whirling disease (infection with Myxobolus cerebralis) in the Columbia River watershed in British Columbia on December 6, 2023.
In order to prevent the spread of whirling disease, the Columbia River watershed has been declared an infected area for this disease. The rest of British Columbia has been declared as a buffer area for this disease.
The infected area declaration does not mean that every susceptible finfish population within the Columbia River watershed is infected with whirling disease. For this reason, the Province and Parks Canada may have movement controls within the infected area.
A buffer area is where the reportable aquatic animal disease may occur because of a link to an infected area but the disease has not been confirmed. The CFIA has disease control measures for buffer areas to prevent the disease from being introduced.
Preventing the spread of whirling disease
Establishment of these areas will help the CFIA to prevent the spread of whirling disease through controlling certain movements that pose a risk of spreading the disease.
Good practices such as cleaning, draining and drying your gear before moving between waterbodies are very important to prevent spread of whirling disease and other invasive species. This also helps to keep the parasite level as low as possible to minimize the impact of this disease on all susceptible finfish species.
Additional information on preventing the spread of disease by practicing "Clean, Drain and Dry" can be found at:
Domestic Movement Control Program (DMCP)
As a result of the new declaration, a domestic movement permit will be required from the CFIA for susceptible species, things and end uses identified as a risk for spread by the Domestic Movement Control Program (DMCP).
For additional information about the Domestic Movement Control Program, please visit the CFIA website. The following are examples of facilities and activities that may require a permit if moving from an area of lower health status to higher health status, such as infected to buffer, infected to free or buffer to free:
- freshwater/land-based aquaculture facilities in British Columbia moving live or dead finfish for cryopreservation/storage, culture, research, feed for finfish or release into natural waterways
- diagnostic laboratories receiving live or freshly dead or frozen finfish or the pathogen of whirling disease
- other types of laboratories that participate in water toxicity or benthic testing programs, for example, and are receiving live or freshly dead or frozen finfish or freshwater sediments
- research activities that use live or freshly dead or frozen finfish, the vector of whirling disease (Tubifex tubifex), the pathogen of whirling disease or freshwater sediments
- aquaculture facilities moving used equipment for cleaning and/or repair (for example, used finfish graders/sorters, net pens, underwater lights, pumps)
CFIA compartments
An aquatic animal facility in British Columbia may choose to become a compartment recognized by the CFIA if it is:
- located in a declared buffer or infected area for 1 or more of the reportable aquatic animal diseases; and
- regularly moving any of the listed aquatic animals or things to other declared buffer, provisionally-free or free areas
Once recognized, the CFIA will declare the location of the aquatic animals or things as a free area, allowing movements from that facility without a CFIA movement permit.
Additional information
Recreational and sport fishing, as well as ceremonial use will not require a CFIA permit.
Parks Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and the provinces may have additional restrictions in place.
- British Columbia – Whirling disease
- British Columbia – Reportable and notifiable diseases
- Parks Canada National Parks
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans – Licences for introductions and transfers
Impact on international trade and changes to export certification processes
There may be trade implications, especially for aquatic animals exported for aquaculture purposes.
The CFIA continues to have engagement with other countries to ensure Canada can meet import requirements for whirling disease.
Aquatic animal health certification by jurisdiction
If you move finfish or related things domestically, please consult the Domestic Movement Control Program for the latest information.