Great Lakes Fish Virus

[AJE]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin anglers can no longer use
imported bait unless it meets strict testing requirements and they
can't move live fish from the Great Lakes or the Mississippi River
under an emergency rule adopted Wednesday to contain an exotic
virus that causes fish to bleed to death.

The Great Lakes states have been bracing for the viral
hemorrhagic septicemia virus, which kills fish by causing massive
internal bleeding. The virus poses no threat to humans, but
wildlife officials warn it could wreak havoc with fish populations
and commercial and recreational fishing.

Michael Staggs, director of the fish management bureau in the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource, said the Great Lakes has
become home to some 250 invasive species. But the virus is worse
than any of them, he said.

"It doesn't just show up there and compete with the native
species. It kills a broad range of fish," Staggs said.

The virus has caused significant muskie and walleye kills in
Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario and probably has spread into Lake
Michigan, where it could cause huge kills this spring, Staggs said.
New York and Pennsylvania have adopted rules this year to contain
the virus. Michigan is drafting similar measures.

Wisconsin officials fear the virus could spread to Lake Superior
and into the Mississippi River through the Illinois River, which
connects to Lake Michigan. From there it could spread to inland
waters, endangering bluegills, trout, salmon, bass, muskies,
northern pike, walleye and perch, according to the DNR.

The Natural Resources Board, which oversees the DNR, adopted the
rule unanimously with little discussion Wednesday in a conference
call. The measure will go into effect by Monday.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/fish/pages/vhs.html

[tjsharky]

Looks like more bad news:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=604843.

If the Winnebago system is affected, can you immagine the impact if the sturgeon deaths begin to climb??

[AJE]

Looks like more bad news:

Originally Posted by tjsharky

If the Winnebago system is affected, can you immagine the impact if the sturgeon deaths begin to climb??

http://www.wluk.com/common/article.s...79145751028644

Fish Virus Found
May 13, 2007
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A deadly fish virus has been found in the
Lake Winnebago chain of lakes - the first such infection confirmed in inland Wisconsin waters, the state Department of Natural Resources said Saturday.

Two freshwater drum fish, or sheepshead, from the Little Lake Butte des Morts have preliminarily tested positive for viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, which causes anemia and hemorrhaging in fish, the DNR said in a news release.

The disease is a "major fish health crisis," the DNR said.

"We're concerned, we don't really know what it means in the long term," said George Boronow, a regional fisheries coordinator with the DNR. "We expect it could be devastating on our fish populations."

Other freshwater drum samples taken from Lake Winnebago, home to a large population of sturgeon, also appear to have the virus, the DNR said.

The DNR said it has received reports of hundreds of freshwater drum dying in Lake Winnebago. The disease has so far not shown up in sturgeon, but that doesn't mean it won't, Boronow said.

State fish experts suspect the disease is also in Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Mississippi River.

There were major fish die-offs in 2005 and 2006 on the shorelines of Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and on the St. Lawrence River, Boronow said.

VHS is not a threat to humans who eat or handle the infected fish, but it can infect more than 25 game fish, panfish and bait fish species.

Boronow urged anglers and others to take caution so they don't further spread the disease.

Last month the state enacted emergency rules to prevent the spread of VHS to inland waters. The rules prohibit anglers and boaters from moving live fish, and requires them to drain their boats and live wells before leaving Wisconsin's Great Lakes waters,
the Mississippi River and those waters' tributaries up to the first dam.

Fish experts met Saturday to implement immediate steps to deal
with the infection and limit its spread, including having the Fox Lakes Authority close the Menasha Lock immediately until more information about the spread of the disease could be confirmed.

"Because the virus can infect so many different ages and species of fish, VHS could spread quickly in inland lakes, which are much smaller than the Great Lakes, potentially devastating fish populations and fishing opportunities," the DNR news release said.

Walleye, spotted musky, yellow perch, bluegill and northern pike
are susceptible to the virus. Others include smallmouth bass, crappie, muskellunge, bluegill, round gobies and some sucker species, the DNR said.

The DNR said it's unclear exactly how the disease is spread but it appears it could be shed by infected fish into the water through waste material, particularly by fish that survive the disease and become carriers. It appears that carrier fish become more resistant to the disease, but not their offspring, Boronow said.

[AJE]

http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/pages/vhs.html

For specific information on the VHS virus, please contact:

Sue Marcquenski
Fish Health Specialist
(608) 266-2871

Bill Horns
Great Lakes Fish Specialist
(608) 266-8782

A total of more than 25 species of game fish, bait fish and panfish are vulnerable to VHS

How VHS spreads
VHS virus is shed in the urine and reproductive fluids of fish into the water and the virus can survive in water for at least 14 days. Virus particles in the water infect the gills of the fish and within 2 days, the infected fish will start shedding the virus. Thus, water discharged from live wells, bilges and bait buckets can spread the virus from infected waters. Moving live, infected fish from one location to another will also spread the virus. Fish can also become infected by eating an infected fish. Other ways that the virus may be spread include natural fish movements, recreational boating/angling, birds, ballast water discharge, and research activities.

:arrow: Not moving live fish away from the landing or shore
:arrow: Draining water from all bilges, bait buckets, and live wells before leaving the landing or shore
:arrow: Using live minnows purchased only from registered bait dealers
:arrow: Cleaning off all visible plants and animals from your boat and trailer before launching and leaving each day

[tjsharky]

Something else I forgot. Anyone who lives or plays in the Fremont area knows about the annual white bass run on the Wolf River. If this virus gets that far, can you imagine the impact on a town that relies on those few days every spring for a good portion of their summer income?

[AJE]

the public should report any fish kills to the DNR tip line:

1-800-TIP-WDNR

[AJE]

Originally Posted by AJE

the public should report any fish kills to the DNR tip line:

1-800-TIP-WDNR

DNR wardens will be out in force, reminding everyone of the new regulations. The goal is to make sure the virus, which causes fish to bleed to death, doesn't spread to any other body of water.

"It's making sure people understand the rules and understand why their cooperation is so important to preventing the spread of VHS to other water bodies," DNR warden Jason Higgins .

:arrow: Emergency fishing rules are in effect for the Lake Winnebago system as part of the Department of Natural Resources's effort to stop the spread of the deadly VHS fish virus.

At an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon in Madison, the DNR enacted the rules for six bodies of water:

Lake Winnebago
Lake Butte des Morts
Little Lake Butte des Morts
Lake Poygan
Lake Winneconne
Wolf River
Under the emergency rules:

Transport of live fish off the Lake Winnebago system (including the Wolf and Fox Rivers) Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and the Mississippi River is prohibited.

Put the catch on ice and do not move any live fish, including unused bait minnows, away from the landing or shore when leaving.

Drain water from bilges, bait buckets, live wells and other containers when leaving the landing or shore.

Use live minnows bought only from registered bait dealers in Wisconsin or caught yourself in the same water where you are fishing.

Before launching and before leaving for the day, inspect all watercraft for visible plants and animals and clean them off.

The DNR asks the public to report any fish kills to a toll-free tip line: 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367).

The Natural Resources Board agreed that if the virus is detected in any other body of water in Wisconsin, the emergency rules will go into effect statewide.


Fines for violating the new regulations range from $228 to $1,130.

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=6537690

[AJE]

Trout from Lake Michigan likely VHS positive
May 24, 2007
Mike Staggs, (608) 267-0796


MADISON – A brown trout that died in Lake Michigan and washed ashore near the Kewaunee/ Algoma area has preliminarily tested positive for viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, a new fish disease that was found earlier this month in fish from the Lake Winnebago System.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/r...kup.asp?id=562



Infected Trout from NY


Rainbow Trout


FYI this is interesting --> Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) is historically a disease of farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in fresh water in continental Europe.

Rainbow Trout with Swollen Stomaches and PopEye

[AJE]

Effort in Door County to Save the State's Chinook


WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: Effort in Door County to Save the State's Chinook

"We know Lake Michigan is infected with VHS, and we suspect our fish have been exposed to it and might even be carrying it, so we are being incredibly careful on what we do with these fish," Peeters said.

The state has already had one VHS scare at its hatcheries earlier this year and doesn't want another one. Biologists say it would be devastating if the virus turned up there.

To make sure it doesn't, the DNR set up a bio-secure area in which only one staff member is allowed in.

All the eggs are disinfected in an iodine solution for 15 minutes. Then right when the eggs show up at the hatchery, they'll go through the same process one more time, just to be safe.

"If you were to have surgery or give blood, they scrub human skin down with iodine and it kills any viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungus particles. Kills 99.9 percent of them," DNR fish hatchery manager Steve Fajfer explained.

Concern remains high over VHS. Fajfer says it's "the unknown, what's going to happen long-term, what other species it may affect, how badly it's going to affect walleyes and muskies, the unknown."

Which is why so much attention is being paid to the salmon of the future.

[AJE]

Permanent VHS rules get green light in Wisconsin
April 10, 2008


MADISON, Wis. (AP) - State lawmakers have given the final go-ahead for permanent rules to control a deadly fish virus - by doing nothing.

Thursday was the deadline for the Legislature to object to the regulations to control VHS. State fisheries director Mike Staggs says the day has come and gone with no objections.

That means the rules will go into effect as soon as they're published. Staggs says that could happen by June.

The rules are identical to emergency VHS rules already in place. Boaters must drain their equipment and no one can move live fish off any state water.

Anglers can reuse minnows if they come from a Wisconsin bait dealer and they plan to return to the same water. They can reuse the minnows anywhere if they haven't touched lake or river water.

WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: Permanent VHS rules get green light in Wisconsin