8057 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

FINAL CONFERENCE STATEMENT: "The fish disease subcommittee for the CRFWC, having reviewed information presented at the WD conference, has determined that the status of the disease should be reevaluated and reassigned. The considerable expertise at the conference represented both historic .and current perspectives pertaining to WD (Myxobolus cerebralis). The fish disease subcommittee recommended that whirling disease be included in the "notifiable pathogen" category (removing it as an emergency prohibitive disease) of the fish disease control policy of the CRFWC." The subcommittee further concluded that "fish with confirmed presence of WD should be liberated only in waters where there is confirmed presence of the pathogen. It is important that infected fish not be released where the spores may become established in the wild." In 1988 the only authority the Director had was to quarantine hatcheries found positive for WD. Beginning with the first discovery of WD in Colorado, all WD+ hatcheries (state and private) were immediately quarantined. No fish or eggs were allowed to be removed from any facility found positive for MC. Criteria were eventually developed by the DOW's task force to allow limited removal of fish from quarantined hatcheries. Other concerned and involved agencies were also contacted. At the time (1988), regulation required approval by other government agencies in writing before stocking any fish from a WD-positive hatchery on the land(s) under their control. The DOW considered the appropriate resource agencies to include the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Department of Park and Outdoor Recreations, U. S. Department of Defense, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service. The proposed criteria and an overview of the entire WD situation were presented in a public meeting at DOW headquarters on January 22, 1988. Input from the private sector was received at that time. Following additional review and revision, the first criteria for fish removal were approved by the Director on March 4, 1988 and the CWC on March 11, 1988, and were put into effect beginning March 14, 1988. A new WD policy was put into effect on July 1, 1988, and continued through November 30, 1988. The policy was the result of new information obtained from the WD conference previously discussed, consultation with other agencies, and a public meeting on June 22, 1988. The amended policy was very similar to the policy that expired on June 30, 1988. Changes in the new policy addressed misinterpretations, clerical issues, and simplifying the total process. On July 11, 1988, as a result of the CRFWC decision to downlist WD to the "notifiable" category, the stocking criteria for the new policy were modified; stocking of fish from quarantined hatcheries would be allowed on the west slope. However, protected sites were established for Colorado River cutthroat trout and Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Self-sustaining populations of rainbow and brook trout were dropped from the protected criteria. All other stocking criteria remained in effect. As a DOW internal policy, stocking of fish from DOW WD-positive facilities on the west slope did not start until the spring of 1992. In addition, regional biologists were instructed not to request fish from quarantined DOW hatcheries in or near sites where spawn-taking operations were conducted. In November of 1988 an Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed on stocking fish from WD-positive hatcheries on federal government lands. After a public comment period, the EA was approved. 5