FURUNCULOSIS again in our trout!!

[Polelock]

Anyone else aware of this?

From F&G.... We are still dealing with furunuculosis within part the production facility. Our B line brook trout have been treated again and are showing no mortalities. BNT in the G and H lines are being treated with antibiotics at the present time and mortalities are decreasing.


These fish are treated with Sulfamerazine & Terramycin.. Antibiotics that i do not want to ingest.... From I've heard, these sick fish will be stocked this year... Last years batch of sick fish were destroyed.. Have the fishing public been made aware? Why are these being stocked? Why are we introducing this disease into our waterways? Too many unanswered questions here...

Here is a good read on Furunuculosis.. http://www.glfc.org/pubs/SpecialPubs/sp83_2/pdf/chap25.pdf

Can this disease affect other species of fish?

[AndyS]

Rumors are going around that there won't be any trout stocking this year :eek:

I say it's time the feds stepped in on this one.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/index.html

They have been awfully quiet through all this.

[Polelock]

Having a tough time believing they would actually stock these fish Andy!!!!!

[Jigman13]

I'm wondering if any of the sick fish are finding their way into the river now up by the TCA on the Pequest. I saw some fish the last time I was up there with some interesting damage on them--I wasn't sure if they were wounds from birds and animals though. I'm def not a biologist, though.

[acaravaglia]

I say the state starts doing population control on all of these birds praying on these trout. It if they're not infesting the hatchery with deases, they are eating all of the stocked trout in ponds. Bunch of bull shit if you ask me. Wait till some of these virus are spread into other lakes / streams and starts infecting other species.

[UglyStick]

I'm far from being an ichthyologist, but an outbreak of furunculosis in an operating hatchery isn't simply a matter of destroying some fish and moving on. Short of removing all the fish, draining and sterilizing the entire facility, it takes a much greater master plan to combat it including everything from keeping birds away from the raceways to antibiotic treatments to obtaining more resistant strains of trout to whatever and can take quite awhile. In an attempt to avoid a complete shutdown that would mean no trout for possibly a few years, F&W (who has an on staff pathologist) are doing everything they can to mitigate the problem while still being able to produce stockable trout even if it means less fish for a period of time.

F&W is aware of the spring stocking schedule and needs to see how their mitigation plan plays out before being able to make any final decisions for the season. They have been very clear to this end discussing the topic and answering all relevant questions at their public forums noting that it will likely be right before the spring stocking period before any final decisions can be made.

From recent updates, it seems that the rainbows, which are much more naturally resistant to furunculosis, are OK. The issue remains with the brookies and browns but does appear to be improving due to the treatments (which is evidenced by the initial quote in this post).

They are fully aware of any and all risks and have no intention of stocking fish that could pose a threat to either humans or the environment. Trust that they know what they're doing and we'll know the conclusion when they know it. I'm not sure what the go / no go date is but it must be sometime in the next few weeks.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Is there enough funds to possibly get trout from another state or would that cause problems and put accounts in the negative? HMMMMMM, there's still trout to catch in alot of streams but not stocking would just be brutal for many anglers. I'm sure the great people at F&G will fix the problem. I have nothing but faith in them.

[EJS]

Is there enough funds to possibly get trout from another state or would that cause problems and put accounts in the negative? HMMMMMM, there's still trout to catch in alot of streams but not stocking would just be brutal for many anglers. I'm sure the great people at F&G will fix the problem. I have nothing but faith in them.

I was wondering the same thing! Since we can't seem to produce healthy trout here, maybe we should close down that archaic museum quality hatchery and simply bring in the fish from out of state!

West Virginia, one of the poorest states in the nation, has a state of the art hatchery! We are still using concrete raceways with a link to an active river ecosystem! Seriously, where is the money going, where is the accountability?

Having diseased fish in a controlled environment is unacceptable! Having multiple years of diseased fish, well that's simply incompetent! Incompetence should lead to unemployment, especially in this situation!

I purchase a yearly out of state license with trout stamp! I expect what is promised, and 4 weeks of stocking is not acceptable!

[AndyS]

I like using the chain of command.

Next, take it to the Feds, I see they are busy planting trees. No help there, we go to US Fish and Wildlife in Washington DC and see what they have to say about all of this.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/index.html

The New Jersey Field Office, located in Pleasantville, Atlantic County, implements the US Fish & Wildlife Service's Ecological Services program throughout New Jersey and its territorial waters. The US Fish & Wildlife Service is a bureau within the US Department of the Interior with the mission of "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people."

[Wilson]

I like using the chain of command.

Next, take it to the Feds, I see they are busy planting trees. No help there, we go to US Fish and Wildlife in Washington DC and see what they have to say about all of this.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/index.html

The New Jersey Field Office, located in Pleasantville, Atlantic County, implements the US Fish & Wildlife Service's Ecological Services program throughout New Jersey and its territorial waters. The US Fish & Wildlife Service is a bureau within the US Department of the Interior with the mission of "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people."
They used to say that a quarter will get you a cup of coffee.
Now it's $4.00 but the answer is the same;)

[Polelock]

Here is the states plan... They want to stock the sick antibiotic treated fish...no risk from the disease but what about the drugs used to treat them?

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2014/trout_changes14.pdf


Here is a study done that showed the disease affecting smallmouths....

http://www.stormh2o.com/SW/Articles/9937.aspx

I see no good coming from these fish...

[Denlon]

Just wondering...

If clams and other shellfish harvested from polluted waters in sandy Hook and Raritan Bay can be purified and made safe for human consumption in a few days by using Ultra Violet light, then could a similar technique be applied to the trout ponds and raceways at the Pequest hatchery?

Denny

[bunkerbuster]

I had a doctor from fish and wildlife tell me I got lime disease from too many gin and tonics...I don't trust em'

[iceehot6766]

Went fishing today and caught a bunch...One in particular looked like either an animal had it's way or IDK, anyone wanna give it a guess, some kinda creases on the side by the gills and back from there.........Is this furunculosis?.....I didn't keep any fish(and prob won't until the spring if any), but the fish was healthy and swam off no problem....ended up w/ 7 total....water was chocolate milk and flowing heavy which made it tough....

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k538/iceehot66/1964843_519079451547126_924211346_n.jpg (http://s1114.photobucket.com/user/iceehot66/media/1964843_519079451547126_924211346_n.jpg.html)

[WormFisherman]

I'm a little confused why they aren't stocking the passaic river below the Great Swamps. This area can't support trout, let alone wild trout. I guess this year I can't do my daily quick stop at the Gorge.

[Dave B.]

Went fishing today and caught a bunch...One in particular looked like either an animal had it's way or IDK, anyone wanna give it a guess, some kinda creases on the side by the gills and back from there.........Is this furunculosis?.....I didn't keep any fish(and prob won't until the spring if any), but the fish was healthy and swam off no problem....ended up w/ 7 total....water was chocolate mile and flowing heavy which made it tough....

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k538/iceehot66/1964843_519079451547126_924211346_n.jpg (http://s1114.photobucket.com/user/iceehot66/media/1964843_519079451547126_924211346_n.jpg.html)

Definitely looks like predator scars, seen that many times. Images of infected fish can be seen here... http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2014/peq_furunc_presentation.pdf About halfway down you'll see the fish. These are browns from Pequest that broke with the initial infection.

[Skunk City]

I'm a little confused why they aren't stocking the passaic river below the Great Swamps. This area can't support trout, let alone wild trout. I guess this year I can't do my daily quick stop at the Gorge.

There IS a natural population of Trout up there. The water quality has been given the highest grade available in that stretch. FastEddie routinely catches them up in this area. The state doesn't want it spreading to existing Trout populations, so they are not risking it I guess.

[surfrod]

The state is treating Furunculosis using Aquaflor:

AQUAFLOR® Approved for Controlling Mortality Due to Furunculosis in Freshwater-Reared Salmonids

Efficacy studies show that AQUAFLOR is highly effective

KENILWORTH, N.J., Nov. 6, 2007 — AQUAFLOR® (florfenicol), the fast-acting in-feed antibiotic developed by Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for control of mortality in freshwater-reared salmonids due to furunculosis associated with Aeromonas salmonicida.

“AQUAFLOR has been shown in clinical field trials to be highly effective for the treatment of furunculosis, which is a serious disease concern in salmonid species. Furunculosis outbreaks often times result in substantial losses,” says Dr. David Erdahl, Fisheries Biologist and Branch Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership Program in Bozeman, Montana.

“This is the first new oral antibiotic available for the treatment of furunculosis in 20 years, and represents an important new management tool for fisheries programs throughout the country,” says Erdahl.

USFWS conducted the efficacy studies demonstrating the effectiveness of AQUAFLOR to control mortality due to furunculosis. AQUAFLOR administered in feed to either fingerling Coho salmon or fingerling Chinook salmon with naturally occurring furunculosis significantly reduced mortality compared to untreated controls. For instance, in a study with Fall Chinook Salmon fingerlings, mortality in fish treated with AQUAFLOR was reduced by over 80 percent. No adverse reactions to treatment were reported in any of the studies.

Outbreaks of furunculosis associated with Aeromonas salmonicida, a Gram-negative bacterium, can cause rapid onset of high mortality. Sub-acute or chronic forms of the disease lead to lower mortality and the formation of external “boil like lesions” or furuncles.

According to the FDA, losses due to furunculosis associated with Aeromonas salmonicida are significant in hatchery-reared salmonids, including those at state and federal hatcheries producing fish for native species restoration programs.

The agency said it reviewed “extensive data” on the antibiotic’s effectiveness against furunculosis and its safety for treated fish and the environment. FDA also said it found that freshwater-reared salmonids fed AQUAFLOR are safe for human consumption when the product is administered according to label directions.

AQUAFLOR has been shown to be effective for several other diseases in aquaculture, such as coldwater disease (associated with Flavobacterium psychrophilum) in freshwater-reared salmonids and enteric septicemia in catfish (ESC) associated with Edwardsiella ictaluri. Earlier this year, its sister product, AQUAFLOR®-CA1 (florfenicol), received a conditional approval for the control of mortality in catfish due to columnaris disease associated with Flavobacterium columnare.

Studies show AQUAFLOR does not lead to reductions in feed consumption or growth. AQUAFLOR also has a short, 15-day withdrawal period in freshwater-reared salmonids.

AQUAFLOR is the first in-feed antibiotic in aquaculture and the second for all food-animal species to be classified by the FDA as a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) drug. VFD is a category established in 1996 to help the agency more closely control new therapeutic products, primarily antimicrobials, and their use in food animals. The VFD classification applies only to new in-feed therapeutics approved by FDA after 2000. Aquaculturists may obtain VFD drugs through normal feed distribution channels, but they will be required to obtain a signed Veterinary Feed Directive from a licensed veterinarian.

For more information on AQUAFLOR and AQUAFLOR-CA1, producers should contact their extension specialist, veterinarian, diagnostician or feed company representative. Information also may be obtained at www.AQUAFLOR-USA.com or by calling Schering-Plough Animal Health 1-800-521-5767.

[WormFisherman]

There IS a natural population of Trout up there. The water quality has been given the highest grade available in that stretch. FastEddie routinely catches them up in this area. The state doesn't want it spreading to existing Trout populations, so they are not risking it I guess.

Skunk I know the are that you are talking about, but this area of the passaic is a little bit further downstream. The water above the great swamps is one of my favorite go to wts, but the area under it is a hot mucky swamp. The stocking areas ( or now non stocked areas) I'm specifically talking about is the stocking on haas rd, basking ridge and the passaic river in Longhill.

[UglyStick]

Skunk I know the are that you are talking about, but this area of the passaic is a little bit further downstream. The water above the great swamps is one of my favorite go to wts, but the area under it is a hot mucky swamp. The stocking areas ( or now non stocked areas) I'm specifically talking about is the stocking on haas rd, basking ridge and the passaic river in Longhill.

This is true, but it is still directly connected and theoretically a fish could go from one spot to the other - mother nature always finds a way. By stocking them below great falls, you have a guaranteed separation barrier. FWIW, this isn't speculation on the choice, it was told to me last Sat. by F&W rep.

[NJMountainMan]

Apparently F&W is dumping 24,000 trout into the Raritan? Will these fish survive the summer heat? It would be awesome if there was a good sized trout population in the lower part of the river. I caught a pretty good sized trout in the raritan this past spring and everyone I showed it to thought it was a holdover.

I heard from a old timer that there was a natural trout population in the gorge, I guess I should try over there sometime.

[AndyS]

When I pulled the big net with the Rutgers people below the Island Farm Fish Weir in Bridgewater last spring we had 4 young of the year brown trout in our pull. In 2011, 116 trout came up the Raritan river in the spring, in 2012, 133, and I think just as many in 2013 from what I saw.