Bell Island/ Port Hardy Extraordinary Mortality

Oct. 29, 2024

Bell Island, Port Hardy

Over the summer, several Mowi Canada West (MCW) farms  experienced higher then usual mortality caused by a prolonged bloom of a harmful Chaetocerous species of plankton. While MCW has robust plankton mitigation measures in place, this plankton bloom also impacted our ability to feed. The bloom subsided, water quality improved and the remaining fish are healthy and thriving.

Plankton are naturally occurring marine plants that can sometimes be harmful to fish either directly or indirectly. Changing ocean conditions due to climate change are affecting the normal patterns of plankton growth and distribution.

MCW continues to investigate and implement adaptive measures to protect our fish and to meet the challenges of a dynamic environment.