[ODFW-News] Fish stocks at Cole Rivers Hatchery exposed to IHNV

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, May 10, 2006
 
Fish stocks at Cole Rivers Hatchery exposed to IHNV 

CENTRAL POINT - State fishery officials today announced 60 adult winter
steelhead held as broodstock at Cole Rivers Hatchery recently escaped a
holding pond where they were placed after other fish from the same pond
tested positive for IHNV, a common fish virus found in naturally reared
fish populations in the Rogue River system. 
 
The problem occurred when dam boards, placed to help regulate water
levels in the hatchery pond and block fish movement, floated up enough
to allow the fish to escape. The fish entered the hatchery water supply
lines, creating a concern that other fish in the hatchery could be
exposed to IHNV. 
 
More than half of the steelhead have been recovered, and hatchery staff
continue working to complete the recovery. The fish tested positive for
IHNV during routine fish health testing, but were not sick or dying from
the virus. 
 
Hatchery managers are working to determine if IHNV was spread elsewhere
in the hatchery, and are making structural changes to prevent future
escapes. 
 
"We are seeing no signs that the hatchery fish are infected with IHNV,
but because they have been exposed, we must take steps to recognize the
potential risks and protect both wild and hatchery fish stocks," said
District Fish Biologist Dan Van Dyke. "As fishery managers, we are
immediately concerned about fish health and we are responding carefully
to make sure we don't spread IHNV."  
 
Cole Rivers Hatchery produces rainbow trout and steelhead, as well as
chinook and coho salmon. Van Dyke said hatchery managers will work to
adjust fish stocking for this year, trading fish with other hatcheries
to ensure IHNV is not spread to waters where it is not already known to
exist. 
 
"ODFW realizes the hatchery's critical role in providing angling
opportunities," Van Dyke said. "This situation is unfortunate, but
fishing opportunities will not be impacted by it. Oregon has built
tremendous flexibility into its hatchery system to accommodate
situations like this one, and we will use that flexibility to
effectively manage this event."
 
IHNV is not harmful to people, and fish may carry it for their entire
life cycle without any health problems. It most often causes mortality
outbreaks only when fish are stressed. ODFW's hatchery and disease
policies maintain a strong focus on preventing the spread of pathogens
to areas where they do not naturally occur by regulating releases of
fish. 
 
For more information about IHNV, visit ODFW's Web site,
www.dfw.state.or.us.
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