A B.C. biologist is warning of a widespread sea-lice infection on pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago, and blames the situation on fish farms in the area.

Alexandra Morton says the sea-lice problem could lead to the extinction of the pink salmon run in the area.


She says she's been monitoring juvenile pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago since March.

And that in the last week alone, sampled 350 smolts and found just one was free of sea lice.

"It's almost impossible to find a pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago with no lice," says Morton.

Morton says fish farms in the area contribute directly to the sea lice problem – and she's again calling for all fish farms to use closed-containment systems.

The provincial government says it is monitoring the situation – and is taking all necessary precautions.

"We have a very good program of monitoring sea lice," says Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister John van Dongen.

"There is certainly ongoing criticism by certain people, but I'm confident in our program. We have a strict regulatory regime in place."

Morton notes that she predicted last years' dramatic reduction in pink salmon returning to the area.

Three and a half million salmon were expected to return to spawning grounds, but only 147,000 made it back.

She says if she's right again this year, she's afraid she'll be witnessing the extinction of an entire salmon run.