Some 450,000 salmon are being destroyed at a hatchery in Stephenville following an outbreak of Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA).

Northern Harvest Smolt Ltd., a division of Mowi, says testing identified eight fish as positive for pathogenic ISA and six fish as non-pathogenic ISA.

The company is destroying the fish which were raised with the positive fish.

All culled fish will be transported to a facility in the province that will convert it into biofuel.

The hatchery will remain in a state of quarantined until it is lifted by regulatory authorities.

In its release, the company noted that ISA is neither a human health issue nor a food safety issue. They also state that the incident was disclosed within 24 hours of detection as per the new regulations in Newfoundland and Labrador.