| Whirling disease is caused by
a parasite that attacks the spinal cartilage of trout and
salmon. In developing young fish, this affects their ability
to swim as their equilibrium goes awry. This is where the
whirling disease comes into play as young fish will swim in
circles unable to eat. Eventually this cycle emaciates the
fish and causes death.
Whirling disease arrived in the United States from Europe
in the 1950's from hatchery practices. In 1998, it was found
in waters in New Mexico. Brown trout, another European import,
have evolved with this disease and thus are not affected.
Hatchery rainbow trout and Rio Grande
cutthroat trout are highly susceptible and have shown
drastic population declines when waters are infected.
On the Santa Fe National Forest, whirling disease has been
found in Rio Cebolla, Jack's Creek, and Pecos River. Inevitably,
the parasite will spread. The amount of infection is up to
all of us. Stream visitors can do their best, by cleaning
all gear, including wading boots and fly rod before entering
a new stream. This practice should be performed when leaving
a stream, 300 feet from water's edge if using biodegradable
detergent. If you do it at home, make sure you are not draining
into a local waterway. The transporting of fish by individuals
to different streams should be refrained.
The Santa Fe Forest fisheries program will continue to work
hard to lower and maintain sediment delivery to natural levels.
This will keep whirling disease localized. In addition, with
the help of New Mexico Game and Fish, we will expand the range
of Rio Grande Cutthroat trout, strengthening the gene pool
and the population's resilience to disease. |
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