UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, FISH - USA (05): (OHIO, LAKE ERIE) WALLEYE
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International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
Date: Fri 13 May 2011
Source: The Sacramento Bee, Associated Press (AP) report [edited] <http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/13/3625151/1000s-of-dead-walleye-being-found.html>
Wildlife researchers want to know what's killing thousands of walleye in Lake Erie that have been washing up on beaches along its western shore.
It's a big concern for anglers who come from across the Midwest and beyond to catch the lake's most popular sport fish.
The best guess is that the die-off can be blamed on natural causes stemming from the stress of spawning and the cold, stormy spring, said Roger Knight, Lake Erie fisheries program manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
"It all kind of fits that picture," he said. The worst is likely over, said Knight, who flew over the lake earlier this week and didn't see a huge number of dead fish. "It probably started a while ago," he said. It's difficult to know how many walleye have died, but Knight estimated it was in the thousands based on phone calls coming into his office. Most have been around the Lake Erie islands and between Toledo and Port Clinton.
Whatever is killing them isn't a danger to people who catch and eat walleye out of the lake, Knight added.
The walleye may be one of the most important resources for towns along Lake Erie's western shore.
Fishing brings in close to USD 500 million in spending on equipment, food, fuel, and hotels, according to the American Sportfishing Association. This weekend [14-15 May 2011], about 250 professionals and amateurs are participating in a tournament in Port Clinton.
Towns celebrate the tasty fish in a variety of ways. In Port Clinton, they lower a fiberglass walleye from a crane every New Year's Eve, and Toledo's minor league hockey team is called the Walleye.
That's why any sign of trouble for the walleye is taken seriously along Lake Erie.
"When you see 6 or 8 [dead] fish in a certain area, that's not right," a professional angler from Minnesota told The News-Herald of Port Clinton. Charter captain Dave O'Neal told the newspaper his customers were concerned.
Knight doubts the die-off will have any lingering effect on the lake's walleye population. There are about 20 million walleye in Lake Erie, and up to 30 percent can die in year, he said.
Most of the dead walleye have a lot of fungus, another sign that is typical after spawning, Knight said. Walleye expend a lot of energy during spawning, and that leaves them vulnerable to disease and death, he said.
Researchers also are testing the fish for viruses to determine if that could be the cause, he said.
[Byline: John Seewer]
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Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Walleye are very tasty fish, and do indeed represent big business in the sportfishing and tourism industries. However, it may be that they are an eye into the health of Lake Erie.
In all likelihood it is post spawning stress. Diseases would more likely affect a number of other species as well.
We look forward to what the researchers and the diagnosticians have to say.
More information and photos of walleye may be found at <http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=2> and <http://howtofishforwalleye.com/>. - Mod.TG]
[Photo of world record walleye:
http://www.silvertipoutfitting.com/images/world_record_walleye_fish.jpg>
- Mod.JW]
[Lake Erie can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/0QZB>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]
[see also:
Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (04): (WI) crappie 20110508.1421 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (CA): domoic acid susp.
20110313.0814
Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (03): (AR), RFI 20110107.0085 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (02): (MD) 20110106.0058 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (AR), freshwater drum 20110104.0035 2010
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Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (16): (NE, NY) 20100828.3068 Undiagnosed die off, fish - USA (15): (MS) 20100807.2694 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (14): (CA) 20100805.2640 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (13): (MN) catfish 20100804.2630 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (12): (MN) catfish 20100731.2573 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (11): (NC) 20100728.2532] .................................................sb/tg/mj/jw/ll
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