Stewardship Tip June 30th, 2009- Preventing the spread of VHS
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) was first identified in Europe in the 1930s. It is caused by the VHS virus and has been associated with severe mortality rates in some species of fish.
It has been found on both coasts of North America. In 2005, outbreaks of the VHS virus in the Great Lakes have been responsible for large fish kills including large numbers of perch and drum; two species that scientists thought were resistant to the VHS virus.
VHS is not a threat to humans who handle infected fish. It is, however, a threat to at least 50 species of fish. A fish with VHS may exhibit bleeding, bulging eyes, or a bloated abdomen. The fish may not, in contrast, exhibit any symptoms at all.
The virus thrives in fish when water temperatures are 37-54°F. Most infected fish will die when water temperatures are 37- 41°F, and rarely die above 59 °F. Stress is an important factor in VHS outbreaks. Stress suppresses the immune system, causing infected fish to become diseased.
Make sure to check with your Department of Natural Resources or Game and Parks Commission to see if VHS is a problem in your area. If it is, you can help to prevent the spread of VHS by following the procedures outlined by our friends at Protect Your Waters:
Remove any visible mud, plants, fish, or animals before transporting equipment.
Eliminate water from equipment before transporting.
Clean and dry anything that came into contact with the water, and
Never release plants, fish, or animals into a body of water unless the came out of that body of water.
To help prevent the spread of VHS, the following two procedures are of paramount importance:
Never release fish into a body of water unless it came out of that body of water: Infected fish shed the virus in their urine and reproductive fluids. Virus particles in the water infect gill tissue first and then move to the internal organs and the blood vessels. The blood vessels become weak, causing hemorrhages in the internal organs, muscle and skin. Fish can also be infected when they eat an infected fish.
Eliminate water from equipment before transporting: The virus can survive in water for at least 14 days. Make sure to empty your livewell, your bilge, and bait buckets before you leave a body of water.
Why it is important to the fish: Viruses can spread rapidly in large, connected waterways, such as the Great Lakes. This can lead to infections of epidemic proportions and can ultimately lead to fish kills on a large scale. We, as anglers, can help to prevent the spread of VHS by eliminating water from our equipment before transporting it and never releasing a fish into a body of water unless it came out of that body of water.
This week’s sponsor-partner: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
SAFE Angling Kits are ready to fish kits loaded with all the tackle you need to start fishing. Every kit is packed with lead-free weights, biodegradable molded lures, circle and cam action hooks.
SAFE Angling Kits are made possible by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and their ‘Get the Lead Out’ program.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s partnership makes this week’s stewardship tip possible.
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