A peer reviewed study backed by Canada's Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) concludes the transfer of piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) from Atlantic salmon farms poses “minimal risk” to wild Fraser River sockeye.

The study, which was a “synthesis of the known data” about the virus, reviewed scientific evidence on the risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon due to PRV transfer from Atlantic salmon farms located in the Discovery Islands area, British Columbia.

The findings, announced on a conference call by DFO officials on Thursday, were met by skepticism from journalists, however, some of whom questioned the timing of the presentation, the limited scope of the study and the lack of available data to back DFO assertions.