New York State DEC Response to VHS in New York: implications to fisheries, the baitfish industry, government program

1. New York State DEC Response to VHSin New York:implications to fisheries, the baitfish industry, government programs, and local tourism

2. ECL §11-0325 (2). Whenever it is determined by the Department of Environmental Conservation that an epizootic disease which endangers the health and welfare of native fish … the department may adopt any measures or regulations with respect to the taking, transportation, sale, offering for sale or possession of native fish or feral animals deemed necessary in the public interest to prevent the development, spread or introduction of such disease.

3. Goals of actions: • Protect NY’s fisheries resources • Minimize spread of VHS to uninfected waters • Protect DEC hatchery system • Determine current distribution in NY waters • Minimize impacts of our actions to recreational fishing and economic interests • Learn more about VHS impacts to fisheries resources: fish health, population effects

4. How can we best minimize the spread and risks posed by VHS?

5. Curtail [minimize] the movement and introduction of infected [potentially infected] fish

6. Potential Pathways • Natural fish movements • Transfer of fish from one body of water to next • Bait fish use • Recreational boating / angling • Birds • Ballast water discharge • Fisheries management activities

7. Potential Pathways • Natural fish movements • Transfer of fish from one body of water to next (importation, stocking ) • Bait fish use (commercial collection, personal) • Recreational boating / angling • Birds • Ballast water discharge • Fisheries management activities

8. Response to “greatest risk” pathways • Developed courses of action: • DEC Field Operations • DEC Hatchery Operations • Emergency Regulations

9. Actions: • DEC Field Operations • Work closely with other agencies • NY – DEC, Ag & Markets • Other Great Lakes states • Federal – USDA-APHIS, USFWS • Reinforce field collection SOPs • VHS monitoring program

10. Actions: • DEC Hatchery Operations • VHS testing of wild broodstock • Chautauqua Lake, Oneida Lake, Lake Ontario, Cayuga Lake, Raquette Lake, Little Clear Pond • No transfer of fish from Salmon River Hatchery to: • Other hatcheries • Waters other than the Great Lakes

11. Actions: Regulations • Enacted emergency regulations effective November 21, 2006 • Effective 90 days (until February 18, 2007) • Filed proposed regulations • Same as emergency regulations • Public comment period (closed January 22, 2007)

12. Actions: Regulations • Extended emergency regulations on February 18, 2007 • Effective 21 days (until March 9, 2007) • Further action pending

13. Actions: Emergency Regulations • Personally harvested bait fish can only be used on the water from which it was collected. (Amendment pending)

14. Actions: Emergency Regulations • Limit the number of bait fish collected and/or possessed for personal use to 100(live or dead) (Amendment pending)

15. Actions: Emergency Regulations • No commercial bait fish collection from VHS-positive waters (Amendment pending)

16. Actions: Emergency Regulations • Require disease-free fish for importation, stocking, placement into NY waters • Stocking permits, bait fish, hatcheries, farm fish ponds, fishing preserves (Amendment pending)

17. Actions: Testing for specific diseases (amended list pending) All Fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Aeromonas salmonicida (Furunculosis) Yersinia ruckeri (Enteric Red Mouth) Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPN) Spring Viremia of Carp (Infectious carp dropsy) Heterosporis Trout and Salmon Myxobolus cerebrablis (whirling disease) Renibacterium salmoninarum (bacterial kidney disease) Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHN)

18. Actions: Fish health inspection reports accepted from: - AFS certified fish pathologists - AFS certified fish health inspectors - Others with demonstrated capability to perform fish health inspections -Licensed veterinarians - Government employees - University or college personnel - Private laboratory personnel

19. Actions: Fish health inspections must conform with methods and procedures recognized by: - American Fisheries Society - World Organization of Animal Health Other, currently experimental methods, are not accepted

20. Actions: • Up-to-date information on DEC’s website • Reach out to people impacted by regulations (licensed bait fish collectors/ sellers, private hatcheries, fishing preserves, farm fish pond owners, stocking permit holders and license-to-collect applicants) • VHS, where present • USDA-APHIS federal order (and amended order) • Preventative measures • Emergency (and proposed) regulations • Public Information Meetings • Bait Fish Collection/ Sale Licensee Survey

21. Impacted parties: • Anglers (esp. that use bait fish) • Bait fish collectors (personal and commercial) • Bait fish sellers • Public and private hatcheries (in-state and out-of-state) • Individuals that stock fish • Pond owners, sportsmans clubs, fishing preserves, etc.)

22. Impacted parties: • Anglers (esp. that use bait fish) • Only use fish from same water • Buy certified disease-free fish • Cost? • Availability? • No movement of fish in livewells between waters • Freshwater Angling $1.4 Billion annually

23. Impacted parties: • Bait fish collectors and sellers • Use on same water collected from • Sell/ buy certified disease-free fish • Cost? • Availability? • Inconvenience (paperwork)

24. Impacted parties: • Public and private hatcheries (in-state and out-of-state) • Sell/ buy certified disease-free fish • Cost? (purchase, testing) • Availability? • Inconvenience (paperwork)

25. Impacted parties: • Individuals that stock fish • Pond owners, sportsmans clubs, fishing preserves, etc.) • Buy certified disease-free fish • Cost? (purchase, testing) • Availability?

26. Next Steps (pending): • Review and evaluate comments received • Amend [?] proposed regulations • File new emergency regulation • File revised proposed regulations • Responsive to concerns and comments • Afford necessary level of aquatic resource protection • Set up expanded VHS surveillance program for 2007

27. Questions?

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