Wisconsin's Billion-Dollar Fishing Industry Copes With Virus

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) _ Under Lake Winnebago's sparkling waters lurks an invader too tiny to see with the naked eye. <br/><br/>Wildlife officials detected the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the

Friday, August 17th 2007, 7:14 am

By: News On 6

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) _ Under Lake Winnebago's sparkling waters lurks an invader too tiny to see with the naked eye.

Wildlife officials detected the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the lake system in May, alarming the state's fishing community.

Anglers fear it could devastate Wisconsin's billion dollar-plus fishing industry, and if left unchecked, threaten waters to the west.

The virus poses no threat to humans, but can cause a wide range of trophy fish, including musky, trout and bass, to bleed to death.

It already has spread through much of the Great Lakes, causing massive fish kills. Ohio wildlife officials estimate the virus wiped out hundreds of thousands of freshwater drum in Lake Erie last year.

The virus hasn't been detected in Lake Superior or the Mississippi River _ yet _ but it has appeared in inland waters in Michigan, New York and, now, Wisconsin.

``It could escalate all over the country eventually if left unchecked,'' said Steve Severing, assistant tournament director with Angler's Edge Premier Bass Series in Loves Park, Ill.

Wisconsin wildlife officials are downplaying the virus' impact, stressing that it remains isolated in the Lake Winnebago system.

``Is it going to wipe out fishing? No,'' said Mike Staggs, Wisconsin's fisheries management director. ``But this is a threat. A significant threat.''

The virus first turned up in European fish in the 1930s and appeared on the U.S. Pacific coast in the 1980s. Scientists believe a mutant strain of the virus spread during the past few years into the Great Lakes through oceangoing ships' ballast water or imported bait.

The Great Lakes host nearly 200 invasive species, but the virus is insidious, Staggs said. It can infect more than 50 fish species and is easily transmitted through fish fluids, bait fish and water.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture last year banned movement of virus-susceptible fish out of the Great Lake states as well as Ontario and Quebec. The agency has since modified the rules to allow movement of fish certified as healthy.

Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have adopted rules that generally prohibit moving live fish. Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota are considering antivirus rules, too.

Wisconsin officials have posted signs at boat landings warning anglers to clean their boats, drain live wells and not move fish. The agency also launched statewide TV and radio ads urging anglers to follow the rules.

Wisconsin wildlife officials recently killed more than 20,000 sturgeon at a state hatchery that took in northern pike eggs from the Lake Winnebago system, best known as the home to North America's largest population of sturgeon.

Sample tests came back negative, but officials feared stocking them was too risky.

Dan Hilger, co-owner of R.J. Hilger and Sons, an Antigo bait dealership, said new rules requiring dealers to certify their product free of viral hemorrhagic septicemia is costing him about $800 a month. He's passed that on to retail bait shops, he said.

The virus eventually will reach an equilibrium with its hosts, said Geoffrey Groocock, a researcher at Cornell University, which tests fish for New York state. But it could kill a lot of fish until then, he said.

``It's sort of like when the little kid comes to school with chicken pox. Since they haven't got any defense against it, everyone comes down with chicken pox,'' Groocock said.

So far this summer, fishing in America's Dairyland remains as popular as bratwurst and beer. Dick Sickinger, owner of Fox River Bait & Tackle in Oshkosh, said anglers worry more about the high price of gas for their boats than the virus.

``The way he's fighting, he ain't got a disease,'' said Frank Paulus, 82, of Oshkosh, as he battled a white bass on the shores of Lake Winnebago. ``I think it's overdone.''