Chesapeake Bay Stripers Hit Hard By Wasting Disease

[FishNews]

ANNAPOLIS, MD-A team of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) researchers announced last week that recent studies have indicated that nearly 75 percent of the striped bass in Chesapeake Bay are infected with a wasting disease that can kill the fish and cause a severe skin infection in humans. Researchers say the discovery of mycobacteriosis in Chesapeake Bay rockfish took them by surprise. They say because the bacteria kills slowly, its effects on the bay's fish population are only now emerging. Last fall, the DNR tagged the bodies of 2,000 rockfish in the Rappahannock River, some with visible signs of the disease and some apparently healthy, and offered a reward to anglers for their return. It says to date, it's received 120 rockfish from anglers. Using mathematical models, the DNR says it hopes to show whether the disease actually kills bay fish and if so, how long that takes to happen. Humans who touch infected fish can develop a skin infection known as fish handler's disease, which the DNR says isn't life-threatening but can lead to arthritis-like joint problems if untreated. In related news, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced last week that it has found high levels of an industrial chemical in fish taken from the Mississippi River near a 3M plant. The agency says blood samples taken from fish in the river near the plant showed high levels of PFOS, a chemical manufactured at the plant until 2002 and used in stain-resistant treatments for carpets, fabrics and paper products. Officials say some chemical concentrations were 10 times higher than had been reported anywhere for fish or wildlife. Officials say the potential risk for human beings cannot be determined, because the chemicals were found in fish blood, which people do not consume. But legislators say they're concerned about the chemicals and the Senate environmental and natural resources committee has scheduled a hearing to discuss the matter. 3M Spokesman Bill Nelson says the company hasn't seen the MPCA data, and says the company took fish near the plant last August for a study and is preparing a report for state officials.
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