Potential Effects of Contaminants on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon

4. Fish processing plants are fewer in number than in the past, hence sockeye andother salmonids caught in various areas <strong>of</strong> BC are centrally processed at fewerplants, many <strong>of</strong> which are on the Fraser River. Sockeye salmon are known tocarry a wide range <strong>of</strong> native viral diseases, hence the possibility exists that fishprocessing plants are functioning as disease amplifiers due to the volume, andminimal level <strong>of</strong> treatment applied to their fish waste effluent.A screening survey <strong>of</strong> sockeye diseases in the ambient water above and belowfish processing plants, before, during and after sockeye and other peak salmonprocessing periods should be conducted to determine if this is a factor in thelong term decline in Fraser River sockeye salmon.Response: This is an excellent suggestion. Accordingly, it was added to therecommendations listed in Chapter 8.6. Please provide any specific comments for the authors.Page 8, line 569 – change to “…each stock <strong>of</strong> sockeye…”Response: Text revised as suggested.Page 14, line 736 – change to “…Cariboo Pulp…”Response: Text revised as suggested.Page 19, following line 92, consider adding another bullet stating that fish diseasesshould be tested in the effluent from fish processing plants;Response: Text revised as suggested.Page 30, line 1327 – add a space between “…theeffluents…”Response: Text revised as suggested.Page 32, line 1415 – state the years when Adams Lake and Chilco Lake were fertilized,as neither lake is currently being fertilized and this gives the impression that these areongoing fertilization programs;Response: Text revised as suggested.Page 70, following line 2728, consider adding nanoparticles to the list <strong>of</strong> emergingcontaminants;Response: Text revised as suggested.A-16