"tenchman" wrote in message
...
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


Interesting and not entirely factual a little known process renders the
fish safe to eat this is called 'cooking' and since this nematode is also
found in other sea fish hake cod mackeral mullet tuna sardines I would be
more worried if I was fond of Sushi or Sushimi borne out since most of the
infections occur in japan rather than europe. You are at risk if you have
open cuts or wounds but I suspect Weils disease is much more of a risk. This
organism is also found in higher densities in farmed salmon and I have not
seen a banning order on that basis either
Derek