ARCHIVED - Renewed calls for closure of Galicia mink farms after four more Covid outbreaks

Seven outbreaks so far at mink farms in the province of A Coruña

The World Wildlife Fund has renewed its calls for American mink farms in Spain to be closed down following the news that another four outbreaks of Covid-19 have been identified at establishments in the Galicia province of A Coruña.

These latest outbreaks bring the total at mink farms in Spain up to 9, including 7 in A Coruña, and the WWF welcome the news that the issue is on the agenda for the current meeting of the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH). The organization continues to petition for the forced closure of the 25 mink farms in Galicia, due not only to the proven link between the species and the spread of coronavirus but also to the threat the invasive species represents to native wildlife.

According to the WWF, the Spanish authorities have been slow to take action regarding mink farms, not tightening the controls and checks at these establishments until late last year in contrast with the rapid reactions of other European governments, such as those of the Netherlands and Denmark.

Mink and coronavirus in Europe

Before 2020 Denmark was the leading producer of mink in the world and the sector is far smaller in Spain with a total of just 38 mink farms, of which 31 are in Galicia and the remainder in Aragón, the Basque Country, Castilla y León and Valencia. Even so, these concerns produce 750,000 pelts a year, but the activity has been targeted by animal rights campaigners on ethical grounds for years.

Millions of mink have been slaughtered in commercial fur farms not only in Spain but all over Europe after it was discovered that the animals are susceptible to coronavirus contagion and can also transmit the virus back to humans. In Denmark the virus mutated during transmission, leading to the culling of over 10 million animals.

Image: WWF