Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Virus killed carp on Manitoba lakes
A massive kill of carp last summer on Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin has been traced to a virus from a hobby fish.
Joe O'Connor, director of the provincial fisheries branch, said the cause of the fish kill has been found to be the koy herpes virus.
O'Connor said the koy herpes virus first appeared in Canada two years ago, when large numbers of dead carp were found in a single lake in Ontario. Last year, the virus spread to about a dozen lakes in Ontario and it made it's first appearance in Manitoba.
The koy herpes virus only affects koy, goldfish and carp and cannot spread to other species. O'Connor said the virus is spread by close contact, adding it's possible that if the Ontario scenario plays out here that the situation could be worse this summer.
O'Connor said the appearance of the koy herpes virus is proof of the dangers of introducing foreign species into Manitoba waters.
"Everyone talks about the potential risks of Devils Lake but here we have a fairly benign species, koy and goldfish, but it's the viruses they carry that can be harmful to our native species."
The virus was likely introduced by someone dumping koy or goldfish into Manitoba waterways, he said.
"People shouldn't be dumping sick goldfish or koy down their toilets or in open water," O'Connor said. "They should be humanely killed."
O'Connor said that carp isn't native to Manitoba, adding records show that it was introduced by European settlers in 1886. By 1950, carp were common throughout the province.
He said that carp can disrupt the habitat of native species such as pike and perch but added that carp has now become a commodity for commercial fishermen, who harvest about 300,000 kilograms of carp every year.
O'Connor said the new virus could jeopardize income for commercial fisherman, adding his staff will monitor the situation this summer.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 1, 2009 A5
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Slain woman appears before jury on video
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- Should the federal government be spending $7.5 million on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?
- LeAnn Rimes in pain following 'minor surgery'
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Easy, economical, healthy soup
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Lesson about war, power told with Shaw's comic touch
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Time, it appears, is on Assad's side
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Local shooting spoofed on SNL
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.