Contact:
Rick Routledge, 778.782.4478, 604.716.2435 (cell), routledge@sfu.ca
Craig Orr, 604.809.2799 (cell), corr@telus.net
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca


Two scientists are holding a news conference at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 19 at Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Harbour Centre to announce new findings regarding the existence of piscine reovirus (PRV) in B.C. fish.
 
Rick Routledge, an SFU fish-population statistician, and Craig Orr, executive director of Watershed Watch Salmon Society and an SFU alumnus with a doctorate in ecology, will make their announcement in room 1420.  
 
Routledge, who is leading a long-term study on the collapse of Rivers Inlet sockeye, regularly collaborates on studies with Orr and Alexandra Morton, an independent fish biologist and SFU honorary degree recipient.
 
This past spring, Morton announced having secured samples of fresh Atlantic salmon from Vancouver supermarkets that tested positive for PRV.
 
The virus has been scientifically linked to heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), a disease that has reportedly become widespread in Norwegian salmon farms and can kill up to 20 per cent of infected fish.
 
The scientists will take questions from the media after their presentation.
 
When:            10 a.m., Thursday, July 19, 2012
Where:           SFU Vancouver, Harbour Centre, room 1420, 515 West Hastings St.
Who:              Rick Routledge, SFU fish-population statistician
                       Craig Orr, Waterhshed Watch Salmon Society, executive director

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