March 26, 2007

Maryland State fishery spreads fish disease through movement of fish

State fishery workers in the US state of Maryland had inadvertently spread a fatal fish illness by moving diseased fish from one facility to another, officials said.

The state Department of Natural Resources previously said the parasite that causes whirling disease, which is fatal to some trout, might have been spread by mud on the feet of birds or bears. Last year, the disease caused aquaculture companies in Utah at least US$1.5 million in lost earnings.

The agency's discovery of the parasite at rearing stations in January prompted the destruction of more than 80,000 rainbow and brown trout that had been earmarked for stocking this spring in Maryland lakes and streams.

The DNR said it has replaced those fish with trout purchased from private hatcheries.

DNR Fisheries Director Howard King said the situation was being taken very seriously.