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Walleye Fishing -> General Discussion -> Multi-State Research Grant Will Focus on Deadly Fish Virus
 
Message Subject: Multi-State Research Grant Will Focus on Deadly Fish Virus
walleye express
Posted 2/24/2008 9:44 AM (#66334)
Subject: Multi-State Research Grant Will Focus on Deadly Fish Virus



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Posts: 2680

Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay.		----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Dettloff"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:18 PM
Subject: Multi-State Research Grant Will Focus on Deadly Fish Virus


> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> Feb. 12, 2008
>
> Contacts: Gary Whelan, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
> 517-373-6948
> James Winton, U.S. Geological Survey 206-526-7468
> Mark Coscarelli, Public Sector Consultants/Great
Lakes
> Fishery Trust 517-371-7468
> Mary Dettloff, DNR Public Information Officer
> 517-335-3014
>
>
>
> Multi-State Research Grant Will Focus on Deadly Fish Virus
>
> Lansing, Michigan - The Great Lakes Fishery Trust announced today a
> $750,000 grant to address viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), a
deadly
> viral disease in fish. Researchers from the U.S. Geological
Survey’s
> Western Fisheries Research Center, Michigan State University, and
> Cornell University have joined together to provide resource managers
in
> the Great Lakes region with new tools and information to better
> understand, predict, and manage the threat posed by this fatal
disease.
>
> The research will compare the effects of VHS on important native and
> Great Lakes sportfish, including lake trout and Pacific salmon, and
> develop new and faster detection techniques which are key information
> gaps on this virus as identified by the Department of Natural
Resources.
>
>
> “This research allows us to be proactive and focus on the highest
> priority needs for this new and emerging disease,” said Great Lakes
> Fishery Trust Board Chair and DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. “This
> funding will provide critical management tools to protect our fish
> populations.”
>
> First identified in the region as the cause of a large die-off of
> freshwater drum in Lake Ontario in 2005, VHS is considered a serious
> viral disease of fish. Since that time, a number of outbreaks have
> occurred in the Great Lakes with the exception of Lake Superior where
it
> has not been detected. While having no affects on humans, over 25
fish
> species have been found with VHS in the Great Lakes region.
Significant
> losses among muskellunge, walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass,
round
> gobies, bluegill, black crappie and gizzard shad have been seen
during
> the period from 2005-2007. It is not known how VHS was introduced to
the
> Great Lakes, or exactly how long it has been in the ecosystem, but
the
> discharge of ballast water from ocean-going vessels is a prime
suspect.
> Within the Great Lakes region, movement of infected baitfish has also
> been suspected as the source of VHS that has been found in certain
> inland lakes of New York, Michigan and Wisconsin.
>
> “This intensive, multi-research institute focus on VHS offers the
> best approach to effectively respond and manage VHS in the Great
Lakes
> region,” said Dr. James Winton, chief of U.S. Geological Survey’s
> Fish Health Section. “The Great Lakes Fishery Trust is a key
funding
> partner in this effort and should be recognized for this valuable
> contribution.”
>
> The Great Lakes Fishery Trust (GLFT) was established in 1996 as a
> result of a settlement agreement with the Ludington Pump Storage
Utility
> Plant on Lake Michigan. The mission of the GLFT is to provide funding
to
> enhance, protect, and rehabilitate Great Lakes fishery resources.
Since
> inception, the GLFT has awarded over $30 million to enhance and
protect
> fishery resources and provide enhanced shore-based angling access.
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