Inactivation of IHNV in Fish Processing Wastewater Using Dissolved Air Floatation and UV Disinfection

Summary:
The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) inactivation in fish processing wastewater through use of dissolved air floatation (DAF) and ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection treatment system as an alternative to chlorine disinfection.  The full scale system is installed at Marine Harvest Canada’s (MHC) Atlantic salmon processing plant in Port Hardy, BC. 

As a physical disinfectant, UV is less sensitive to variations in water quality than chlorine, does not produce harmful by products, is safer to operate, and has been adopted in numerous industries.   Despite its advantages, the fish processing industry has been reluctant to accept the UV technology without a full scale reference installation.   The project objectives were to provide the reference installation, determine the dosage rate required to achieve a four log-removal of the virus, and establish relationships between removal effectiveness and parameters in fish processing wastewater which affect UV’s performance. 

The results of this project have provided many benefits that support the sustainability of the BC aquaculture industry and the seafood industry worldwide.  An immediate and direct result was the improvement in the quality of the processing plant effluent discharged to Hardy Bay.  Other positive results are the proving of the less costly and “green technology” for effluent treatment, as well as, providing an alternative for reduced biosecurity risk from viral disease transmission. The project also has provided the opportunity for testing an established technology in a novel aquaculture setting enabling a Canadian company to access this new market.   

Recipient: Marine Harvest Canada

Total Project Cost: $2,073,949
           
DFO-AIMAP Contribution: $250,000

Other Financial Support:

• Recipient: Marine Harvest Canada - http://www.marineharvestcanada.com/

For more information please contact the AIMAP regional coordinator
Pacific Region: Sean.Irvine@dfo-mpo.gc.ca