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Post by SCGFA on Dec 16, 2014 23:50:42 GMT -5
A message from the Lake Ontario management unit: A few weeks ago we became aware of a developing issue with Lake Ontario Rainbow Trout in the Salmon River NY. The US media reported on this issue last Friday (December 12): www.syracuse.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2014/12/scientist_puzzled_about_whats_killing_steelhead_in_the_salmon_river_and_other_la.html#incart_riverIn November, we requested our tributary creel crews to look for stressed fish. The creel crews have not observe any stressed fish. Recently, NYSDEC sampled some fish from the Salmon River and had them tested a Cornell University. The media report outlines the results of the analysis and speculates that low thiamine may be linked to the issue. Today, staff from the Lake Unit went to Cobourg Creek and observed about fifty Rainbow Trout in apparently good condition. No stressed fish were observed. We will continue to monitor the situation and we are working closely with NYSDEC on this issue. The tributary creel crew will continue interviewing anglers and looking for stressed fish on ten Ontario streams throughout the winter and up to mid-June. You can direct any reports of stressed Rainbow Trout in Ontario tributaries to Colin.Lake@ontario.ca We will update you as information become available. |
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Post by SCGFA on Jan 18, 2015 16:35:50 GMT -5
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Post by Nittro on Mar 31, 2015 10:57:03 GMT -5
As you may recall, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) observed distressed Rainbow Trout in the Salmon River (NY) during in the Fall 2014.
NYSDEC tested some fish and found very low levels of thiamine (vitamin B) and they published a press release on January 7, 2015 (http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/100233.html ) which describes the issue and provided the results of their analysis.
The low thiamine levels are likely related to a diet consisting primarily of Alewife which are known to contain thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine.
Lake Ontario Management Unit (LOMU) has been working closely with NYSDEC on this issue.
LOMU is currently conducting an angler survey in ten tributaries to Lake Ontario and field crews are looking for distressed Rainbow Trout and are recording any reports.
To date (as of March 30, 2015) LOMU has received less than 20 reports of distressed fish observed by anglers in Ontario tributaries. In the last week however, the number of reports has increased and with the spring thaw and trout season opening in the tributaries on April 25, we expect to receive more reports.
LOMU will be sampling Rainbow Trout in April at the Ganaraska River fish-way in Port Hope and fish will have their thiamine levels tested. In addition, LOMU will sample distressed fish if possible.
Sampling needs to be done at stream side on live fish and the samples must be immediately stored in liquid nitrogen. Therefore anglers should NOT collect specimens since these fish would not be suitable for analysis.
Anglers are encouraged to report sightings of distressed Rainbow Trout to the Lake Ontario Management Unit general email account FMZ20@ontario.ca. or to contact 613-476-3200 and to provide the following information:
Date and time of observation
Location (name of tributary with the nearest access point or road crossing)
General description of observation (number of fish observed and condition of fish such as, disoriented/struggling/dead)
Thank you for your continued service to FMZ20 fisheries management.
Andy Todd
Manager, Lake Ontario Management Unit
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
41 Hatchery Ln. Picton ON K0K 2T0
Bus: 613-476-3147
Andy.Todd@ontario.ca
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