The mystery of the reduction of Atlantic Salmon stocks appears to be
resolved this week.

For many years anglers have been blaming drift netting, yet with the netters
under a strict quota system stocks are still diminishing during the main
part of the season. The real reason is a worm Anasakis simplex which is
killing most of the stock before it reaches Ireland

The rivers in Ireland are now awash with fresh run fish held up in the tidal
sections awaiting substantial rains to allow them up river to spawn.

Unfortunately this will prove to be a major disaster this year as these fish
are being eaten alive by a parasitic worm Anasakis simplex . These fish are
spreading this worm to all those other fish in the river and will eventually
destroy the species.

Fish that are infected with the worm are not safe to eat as there is no
known medicine that will kill this worm in humans, the only treatment is
surgical removal, however this worm can only live for about 4 (painful)
weeks in humans and can leave permanent damage.

Anglers are advised not to handle these fish without protective clothing as
eggs are discharged from the fish during handling and could enter the body
through open wounds etc.

The first cases have been reported on the River Blackwater (Lismore) in the
last ten days and have been confirmed by the Marine Institute.


Further information on this worm can be found here.
http://www.usc.es/~banim/doc/tppanisa.htm