Trout Production At
Two State Rearing Facilities Impacted By Parasite Discovery
Little or no impact to spring fishing success
anticipated
ANNAPOLIS - Maryland Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) Fisheries officials announced today that trout production
at two state rearing facilities will be reduced by approximately 20
percent this year, due to the discovery of the parasite known to cause
whirling disease at the previously uninfected facilities in Garrett
County. In order to reduce the possibility of the parasites’ spread, all
infected fish at the facilities will be destroyed and the facilities will
be sanitized to eradicate the parasite.
Given the loss of production at these sites, Maryland will be ramping up
production at other hatcheries and rearing stations, and augmenting stock
with the purchase of certified disease-free fish. Therefore, while
stocking rates will be reduced for the 2007 spring season, the angling
public should see little or no difference in fishing success in Maryland
streams.
The whirling disease parasite was introduced into the eastern United
States from Europe in the late 1950s and is currently known to exist in 24
states. It was first discovered in Maryland in 1995 in the North Branch
Potomac River. Although harmless to humans, the parasite can be fatal to
trout and is particularly harmful to rainbow trout. Once infected, the
parasite attacks the fish’s skeletal tissue, resulting in severe internal
damage and causing it to exhibit the erratic “whirling” swimming behavior
for which the disease is named.
To reduce the likelihood of spreading the spores of the organism, DNR is
asking anglers not to move caught fish from one stream to another, not to
discard carcasses in the stream or on the stream banks, and to remove mud
from boots and equipment before moving from one stream to another.
Spring stocking updates and further information on whirling disease and
ways to prevent its spread can be found at
www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/.
