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The Michigan DNR announced it will not collect eggs from Great Lakes muskellunge in the Detroit River this month due to recent fish kills in Lake St. Clair that are attributed to a confirmed, widespread infection of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv).
Normally, the DNR collects eggs from the Detroit Rivers muskellunge population to be reared at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan and stocked each fall in Michigan waters throughout the state. With an increasing number of dead muskellunge being found in the Detroit River, and the confirmed presence of VHSv in Lake St. Clair, DNR fisheries managers feel the risk of contaminating this hatchery is too great to proceed with this year's rearing efforts.
VHSv is a contagious pathogen that causes the fish's blood vessels to leak, which can show as bloody patches on the skin. It is known to infect more than 30 species of Great Lakes fish and has been found in lakes Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario, along with a few inland lakes. Some species such as lake sturgeon and walleye are very resistant to it, while others including bluegill, largemouth bass, muskellunge, gizzard shad and round goby are very susceptible.
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In 2014, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission and the Michigan DNR agreed to maintain deer regulations on a three-year regulatory cycle to stabilize regulations, reduce public confusion and enhance communications.
That three-year time frame has ended, and the DNR has prepared recommended changes to deer regulations and will present those changes at the May 11 NRC meeting.
The NRC has the exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game and sportfish.
Deer are very important to the citizens of Michigan. There is much interest going into this next regulation cycle, especially since we are proposing quite a few changes. It is critical that we provide an extensive summary of any recommended change so those who are interested can voice concerns to the NRC as part of the public input process, said Chad Stewart, DNR deer specialist.
We try to take a comprehensive approach when we construct our proposed changes," Stewart said. "We collected input from public comments and stakeholder groups over the last three years, and have identified the issues that are important to them. We then analyze the data that we have and make recommendations using the best biological and social science available.
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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that test results on fish collected in the ongoing fish kill event on Lake St. Clair +AFs- http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366/54559/10402-409793--,00.html +AF0-were confirmed to be positive for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv). Fish were collected during late March and early April and included gizzard shad, bluegill, and black and white crappie.
"A total of 165 fish have been tested thus far using pooled samples of five fish, and of the 33 pooled samples, 31 of them have been positive for VHSv," said Gary Whelan, research program manager for the DNRs Fisheries Division. "Ten gizzard shad were tested individually and all were positive for the virus. These results confirm what we initially suspected, given the external signs on the fish, species involved, and timing of the fish kill, all strongly implicating VHSv as the cause of this fish kill."
Based on both public and other DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports, the current known distribution of the fish kill event is from Algonac to Lake Erie, with many of the reports from Harrison Township to St. Clair Shores. Initially, the fish kill was mostly gizzard shad, an important forage species, but now is widening to more species and is likely to affect tens of thousands of fish. This event is considered an unusually large fish kill but is smaller than an earlier VHSv-related fish kill in 2006. The reasons for the fish kill occurring this year are under investigation and the mortalities should begin to be reduced with water temperatures rising above 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Recognizing the challenge posed by the presence of chronic wasting disease in Michigan's white-tailed deer population, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission recently adopted a resolution to engage the scientific community to identify practices that will address the threat of CWD. The resolution was approved at the commissions April meeting in Lansing.
The purpose of the resolution is to have scientists and experts advise the NRC, the DNR or other applicable agencies on further steps and actions which could be implemented to substantially mitigate or eliminate CWD in Michigan.
Chronic wasting disease first discovered two years ago in free-ranging deer in Michigan is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brain of an infected animal, resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and, ultimately, the animal's death. There is no known connection between CWD and human health.
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The Michigan DNR reminds everyone that once the ice and snow cover melts on Michigan's lakes, it may be common to discover dead fish or other aquatic creatures. Winter conditions often can cause fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish to die.
"Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill," said DNR Fisheries Division Hatchery Manager and fish health expert Martha Wolgamood. "As the season changes it can be common in shallow lakes, ponds, streams and canals. These kills are localized and typically do not affect the overall health of the fish populations or fishing quality."