Spiel

Big cat could set a record Not a state mark, would be tops for Percy Priest Lake MIKE ORGAN • tennessean.com • February 14, 2008 Picture Kham Payavong sounded excited when he called Don Mullins and Svan Do while the three men were fishing on Percy Priest Lake earlier this month. Payavong told Mullins and Do to bring their boat to his location. He had something to show them. "He said he'd caught a big fish,'' Mullins said. "He said it was a catfish so I figured it might have been 20 or 25 pounds." When they pulled up Mullins and Do were astonished to see Payavong struggling to hold up a humongous blue catfish that was nearly as long as Payavong is tall. It was a 72-pounder, which, if certified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be the largest of its kind ever caught in Percy Priest. The current lake record is a 56-pound, 3-ounce blue catfish caught in 2006. The state record is a 112-pounder caught in 1998 in the Cumberland River. After stabilizing his boat Mullins grabbed a digital camera and started snapping photos. "He had a hog — it was a monster,'' Mullins said. "Both of them (Payavong and Do) couldn't hardly hold it up. It was kind of slick and just so big." 45-minute struggle Payavong, who was fishing alone, wasn't even trying to catch catfish. He was fishing for yellow bass and crappie using only 14-pound test line, a small hook and a minnow. "I don't fish for catfish. I don't like to eat catfish, I only eat crappie and yellow bass,'' Payavong said. But the big catfish took Payavong's minnow, headed for deeper water and the fight was on. "It took me 45 minutes to get him in,'' Payavong said. "He fought me. I knew I had a big fish while I was trying to get him in. I didn't know what kind it was." When Payavong got the fish next to his boat he struggled to place a net around it but was able to get rope through its gills and haul it into the boat. Payavong took the fish to several places to have it weighed but was unable to find a scale large enough. He finally went to Bass Pro Shops, which weighed the fish. Record designation Payavong, who is retired from the Nissan plant in Smyrna, and his friends checked the state record for a blue catfish and learned it was the 112-pounder caught in the Cumberland. They were unaware records were kept for Percy Priest Lake. After learning his catfish was not a state record, Payavong cleaned and then filleted it. There is a chance, however, that the big blue cat still could be deemed a record for Percy Priest. Mark Vaughan, a conservation biologist in the Percy Priest Resource manager's office, is handling the case. "I have contacted the Tennessee Wildlife Recourses Agency for guidance on the matter to determine if consideration can be given for lake record status,'' Vaughan said. "Record or not, it's one big cat."

....Looks like you'll get the chance Dan. I've managed to snag vacation from August 7th to September 2nd....inclusive. That's 26 consecutive days off and I'm only working 9 days in July and 10 days in June. It's shaping up to be a good summer. My only goal is to enjoy it.

Smelt low, herring high in Lake Superior February 9, 2008 ironwooddailyglobe.com As smelt numbers in Lake Superior have plunged, native herring have exploded. Fisheries biologists aren't quite sure why that has happened, but it has provided a bonanza for fishermen who like to catch herring through the ice. Herring are also important baitfish for lake trout and other fish species. The Department of Natural Resources has catch rate charts showing that in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when smelt numbers plummeted, herring rebounded dramatically. Herring peaked around 1993, then dropped down next to nothing around 2000. Since then, however, herring have again shot up. Mike Seider, a DNR fisheries biologist from Bayfield, discussed the fluctuating herring populations with Saxon Harbor area fishermen late last month. "We know 1989 was a big year class for herring, but some years are busts," Seider said. "That's probably the norm for Lake Superior," he said, referring to the sporadic year classes. While the herring population has bounced up and down like a pinball over the past decade, smelt numbers have remained very low for that entire period, showing no signs of rebounding. "Smelt numbers are way down. Lake trout are preying on them, munching on them," Seider said. There are more fish predators throughout the lake and that has caused growth rates of species like lake trout to decrease, Seider said. "A typical lake trout today grows slower than it did 20 years ago," he said. In addition, with fewer smelt in shallow water and more lake trout in the lake system, stocked salmon are having a harder time surviving. Seider said better regulations, including fish refuges, and the control of sea lamprey have helped lake trout rebound and have a better chance of surviving to an older age, although Saxon Harbor fishermen believe excessive gill netting is working against the chance of a laker living very long. With all of the herring in the lake, mixed with a few smelt, the DNR believes the native prey fish population is adequate to support native fish populations, however.

Yeast could be the key to ending lake invaders February 11, 2008 BY TINA LAM / FREE PRESS A Michigan company says it thinks it may have a promising solution to fight a huge Great Lakes problem -- invasive species dumped from the ballast of oceangoing ships. EcologiQ, a Troy firm, hopes a tiny form of yeast it has patented can rid ships of dangerous invasive organisms that lurk in their ballast tanks by starving them of oxygen. When ships travel without cargo, they take on water for stability. When they take on cargo, they discharge the water from their tanks. Ballast water often contains bacteria, viruses and the adult and larval stages of plants and animals. Those originating in freshwater in places such as eastern Europe's Black Sea could survive and proliferate once released in the Great Lakes, causing serious harm. For example, invasive zebra and quagga mussels and round gobies, have led to a chain reaction producing botulism that has killed more than 50,000 waterfowl in three of the Great Lakes since 1999. Zebra mussels also have clogged water intake pipes throughout the Great Lakes and cost communities millions to clear away. The new product, BallaClean, works by removing the oxygen in a closed space or body of water and suffocating live organisms that could turn into unwanted invaders once released into the Great Lakes. The company is testing the product in hopes of getting it certified in various countries. The firm says it offers a smaller, simpler and cheaper solution for shippers than other methods on the market. Environment Canada has tested BallaClean and found that it does not harm the environment. The tiny yeast replicates repeatedly until all the oxygen is removed from the water it's in, said Dr. Robert Bilkovski, a former Henry Ford Hospital emergency room physician and vice president of the company. Once it has killed other organisms, the yeast goes dormant. When it's released from the tank into a lake, it becomes harmless fish food, Bilkovski said. More than 100 invaders have been introduced into the Great Lakes over the last century. Many were first found in Michigan where ships discharged ballast. By 2016, the International Maritime Organization could require all ships to install treatment systems to disinfect their ballast water, but the treaty still must be ratified by dozens of countries. Environmental groups say 2016 is too late. Now, ships either swish saltwater through their tanks to kill freshwater organisms or dump their ballast water in the ocean before entering the Great Lakes. Either method can leave tiny creatures in the sediment in the tanks. Scientists say treatment is the only real solution to stop future invaders. Bills before Congress would require tougher standards and a speedier timetable for ships entering U.S. ports. But so far, the legislation hasn't passed, partly because of lobbying from the shipping industry, which says the measures are too costly. The State of Michigan has required ballast water treatment since last year, but since no other states do, it doesn't solve the problem. Bilkovski said EcologiQ plans to request approval for BallaClean from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. "If it's something we can demonstrate works and is effective, it's something we can work with," said MDEQ spokesman Bob McCann. Four other treatment methods already are approved by the state, said Roger Eberhardt with the DEQ's Office of the Great Lakes. Competition to come up with systems to treat ballast water is fierce. Some remedies in the works or already developed use chemicals, filtration, deoxygenation by injecting a gas, ozone, irradiation or ultrasound to zap critters in ballast. Many have restraints, such as cost, size or an inability to kill all types of organisms. Bilkovski said his firm works to balance ecology with economics. "We think we have the best product," he said. Bilkovski also said he is proud that a local company is working on the problem. "How great would it be to say 'We've got a Michigan company helping with this'?" he said.

Leaked report on the Great Lakes is a wake-up call High levels of pollution pose a health threat. U.S., Canadian decision-makers keep public in the dark for fear of lawsuits, expensive cleanups, scientist says WILLIAM MARSDEN, / The Gazette Thursday, February 14 At least 9 million people living on the United States side of the Great Lakes basin may be in danger from high levels of chemical pollution, according to a secret study that has been withheld from the public. The study was kept secret from the public for seven months until this week when it was leaked to the Centre for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C. The 400-page study was done by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on behalf of the International Joint Commission, which oversees issues relating to the joint management of the Great Lakes. The study shows there are 26 "areas of concern (AOC)," where there are elevated levels of illnesses that can be traced to pollution. These areas of concern are spread out through all five of the Great Lakes with particular intensity in Chicago, Detroit and Buffalo. More than 9 million people live inside the boundaries of these AOCs. The report states that illness in the populations "compares unfavourably ... with the U.S. population." For instance, the report identifies elevated levels of infant mortality in 26 AOCs, and of premature births in four AOCs. The study also identified 108 hazardous waste sites, of which 71 are or could be public health hazards. Powerful lake currents can distribute the chemical and hydrocarbon pollutants including dioxins throughout the Great Lakes system and down the St. Lawrence River. Migratory marine life such as eels, which swim from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, also distribute the pollutants. The study mirrors a series of reports previously done by Health Canada in the 1990s that revealed 17 Canadian AOCs, where there were elevated levels of illnesses that could be traced to pollution. When the Canadian reports were printed in 1998 they also were kept from the public. In this case, Health Canada circulated them only to public health officials in the 17 AOCs. One study was leaked to a reporter in Windsor, Ont., in 2000, forcing Health Canada to release the rest. The Americans have claimed that their study was suppressed because the science was substandard. Michael Gilbertson, a former International Joint Commission scientist who was one of three scientists to peer review the U.S. study, said the reasons behind the suppression were political. "Their real reason is that in the States and also in Canada at the moment there is really a reluctance within the governments to acknowledge that there are any effects of these chemicals on fish or wildlife or on human health," he said. Gilbertson said the governments are afraid of lawsuits and expensive cleanups. "I mean you can find sources of chemicals in the environment," he said. "But if you actually find effects, this has a connotation of liability. Governments are extremely reluctant to allow their scientists to start making statements about the effects of chemicals on fish, wildlife or on humans. Particularly on humans." The Canadian study, for example, found a series of outbreaks of Minamata disease in Thunder Bay, Collingwood, Sarnia and Cornwall. Minamata disease, which includes cerebral palsy among its symptoms, is caused by mercury poisoning. Each of the affected areas had large chlor-alkali plants that used mercury for making chlorine. At various times between 1948 and 1995, these plants released 742 tonnes of mercury into the Great Lakes. Mercury dumped in Sarnia went down the St. Claire River to Lake St. Claire and then down the Detroit River to Lake Erie. Canadian research has also found an inexplicable drop in the male-female ratio on the Aamjiwnaang Reserve near Sarnia. The number of male babies had dropped 40 per cent in the mid-1990s. The reserve is surrounded by 46 large chemical plants and refineries. Furthermore, Health Canada studies showed, the Windsor area suffered from much higher mortality and morbidity rates than in the rest of Ontario. The federal government and the province of Ontario launched a program in 2000 to reduce pollution in the Great Lakes. So far, two areas - Collingwood and nearby Severn Sound - have been removed from the AOC list. To see the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention report go to www.publicintegrity.org/default.aspx

Government of Canada's Action Plan for Clean Water Delivers $30 Million to Clean Up Lake Simcoe BARRIE, Ontario, January 16, 2008 - Canada's Environment Minister John Baird, and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, today announced new, long-term funding to preserve and protect the environment of Lake Simcoe. The additional $18 million announced builds on the $12 million that was announced last year by the federal government and brings the Government's total investment to $30 million over five years. "Canadians want to know what this government is doing about improving water quality and I want to tell them we are moving quickly to restore the health of our lakes and waterways as we promised we would," said Minister Baird. "Today's announcement builds upon the significant financial commitment we have already made to cleaning up Lake Simcoe, as well as our announcement that we will be restricting the level of phosphates in laundry and dishwasher detergent across Canada. This will have a positive impact on reducing the growth of blue-green algae, an issue I know the residents around Lake Simcoe have faced." This investment to clean up Lake Simcoe is part of our Government's Action Plan for Clean Water, which includes projects like the Health of the Oceans initiative to protect Canada's three oceans, the clean up of Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour and action on pollution going into Lake Winnipeg. "Our commitment of $30 million to Lake Simcoe will get the job done and the work starts this year," said Minister Van Loan. "Canadians expect action from government to deal with the pressing environmental issues of today, and we are taking action now for all the people who make their home around Lake Simcoe." Other measures to protect water quality include regulations later this year to reduce pollutants in sewage and improving raw sewage treatment in municipalities and First Nation communities across Canada.These new rules, when combined with regulations to reduce phosphate and with the $8 billion allocated in the Building Canada plan to improve sewage treatment, will enhance water quality and protect the health of Canadians. Lake Simcoeprovides drinking water to eight municipalities and is known for its recreation industry, which generates more than $200 million in annual revenues. The region supports farming and recreational fishing and has recently undergone significant increased urban development. Backgrounder $30 Million for Cleaning up Lake Simcoe - Part of the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Clean Water The Government of Canada believes that clean, safe and secure water is something all Canadians have the right to enjoy. That is why the Federal Government is taking action to preserve and protect Lake Simcoe. Residents around the lake are seeking solutions and the Government of Canada, through a $30-million, five-year Clean-Up Fund is helping them restore the health of the Lake. As many local residents know, the health of Lake Simcoe has been steadily declining for many years. The primary environmental challenge for Lake Simcoe is declining water quality due to pollution from land-based rural and urban sources. Lake Simcoe's annual phosphorus inputs are two to three times the natural level . This is causing excessive algae growth and robbing the lake of oxygen, affecting the cold water fish community, wildlife and overall water quality. As we just announced yesterday, our Government is taking action and will be limiting phosphates in laundry and dishwasher detergents. Along with our plans to ban the dumping of raw sewage and improve sewage treatment across Canada, this should have a positive effect on the environment and Lake Simcoe. The initiative is expected to improve water quality for recreational use, substantially reduce phosphorous loads from urban and rural sources and advance the restoration of a sustainable cold water fishery and the ecological integrity of Lake Simcoe. The Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund is part of the government's Action Plan for Clean Water. It will be used to help reduce the amount of phosphorous getting into streams and rivers feeding the lake and will help restore fish and wildlife populations. The Fund will be administered by Environment Canada in consultation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Province of Ontario, the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority and other key stakeholders. The Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund will be used to support projects by federal, provincial and municipal governments, the conservation authority, non-governmental and community organizations, land owners and Aboriginal communities such as: ....Reducing rural and urban pollution to cut phosphorous overloads; ....Rehabilitating and stewardship of fish and wildlife habitats; ....Improving information and monitoring for decision-making; and ....Controlling pollution from sewage, sewer overflow and storm water. This Fund will not support capital or operating costs for municipal infrastructure, such as sewage treatment plants. Lake Simcoe is the fourth largest lake in Ontario and is a major recreational area, located just north of Toronto. Lake Simcoe is known for its recreational fishery, which augments a tourism industry generating more than $200 million a year. The region supports farming and has recently undergone increased urban development. The lake provides drinking water to eight municipalities.

Bait fish need ‘disease-free' certificate Regulation designed to stop spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia Feb 12, 2008 By SCOTT BRAND sooeveningnews.com EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA - Minnow-toting anglers need more than just their rods, reels, hooks and augers when they head out onto the ice under relatively new regulations governing this activity. Fisherman will also need to show their receipts declaring their minnows “disease-free” or specifying the location where they were collected as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources works to contain the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) - a disease which can devastate fish populations. “It's a bad disease,” said Lake Superior Coordinator Steve Scott of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “It does bad things when it gets in the water.” Scott's assertion is backed by evidence compiled from outbreaks in the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Clare County's Budd Lake - where large-scale mortality occurred. “It shuts down their whole system,” said Scott, noting the fish frequently perish from internal hemorrhaging. The Lake Superior Basin is believed to be unaffected by VHS, and officials hope the new regulations will keep the disease from gaining a foothold in our waterways. While there has been a grace period as bait dealers and anglers adjust to the receipt regulation, Scott indicated that could be drawing to a close. “I think law enforcement will be stepping up their efforts pretty soon,” Scott predicted. Under the new regulations, it is the angler responsibility to get a receipt - which either declares the bait disease-free or specifies where the minnows were collected - before leaving the bait shop. “If you don't get a receipt, you need to ask for a receipt,” said Scott. Receipts are good for up to seven days after they are issued. Scott explained Michigan officials really had three options after VHS was discovered. The first was to outlaw minnows, but that would harm bait dealers and put a damper on fishing activity. The second possibility was to do nothing and allow the disease to spread unchecked. After dismissing both of those options, authorities went with the receipt-mechanism hoping to keep infected fish from being introduced into uninfected waters. Additional regulations will also come into play during the warmer months, as fisheries biologists are instructing anglers to empty all of their livewells at the boat ramp before departing. “VHS stays alive for a long time in water,” said Scott. The use of receipts and livewell draining, Scott added, are good deterrents not only for VHS, but other diseases which may impact fish populations in the future. “The precautions taken are a good practices for anglers to get into,” he concluded. While VHS can have a devastating impact on fish populations, it does not appear to be harmful to humans. For more information on the VHS regulations visit the DNR's Web site at www.michigan,gov/dnrfishing.

News Release Government Takes Action to Ensure Clean Water for Canadians: Phosphates in Detergents to be Heavily Restricted Montreal, Quebec, February 15, 2008 -The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and the Honourable Michael M. Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced action on restricting the level of phosphates in laundry and dishwasher detergent. This will have a positive impact on reducing the growth of blue-green algae in our rivers, lakes and streams. "Last summer, Canadians in many parts of the country saw an increase in the growth of blue-green algae, restricting their ability to enjoy many summer holiday locations," said Minister Baird. "It's time to act. Our Government is taking action and will be limiting phosphates in laundry and dishwasher detergents. Along with our plans to ban the dumping of raw sewage and improve sewage treatment across Canada, today's action should have a positive effect on the environment." The Government is proposing to amend regulations in order to reduce the amount of phosphates added to laundry detergents and, for the first time in Canadian history, limit the amount found in dishwasher detergents and general purpose cleaners. By 2010, the Government will set a limit of 0.5% by weight for laundry and dishwasher detergents and, where analysis indicates, in general purpose cleaners. "Canadians have spoken and this Government has listened. Today, we are taking real action to protect our rivers, lakes and streams from blue-green algae," said Minister Fortier. "I know this has been an important issue in the province of Quebec and today's action is another step towards improving our waterways for the enjoyment of all." Phosphates are used in certain detergents and cleaning products to soften water, reduce spotting and rusting, hold dirt, and increase performance. However, too many phosphates in our water can lead to an over production of blue-green algae. Though blue-green algae are naturally-occurring, in large quantities they can emit a harmful level of toxins. This can lead to poor water quality and force the closure of beaches in warm temperatures. "I also want to acknowledge the work of provinces like Quebec and Manitoba in regulating phosphates," said Minister Baird. "I know that Premiers Charest and Doer, along with Ministers Beauchamp and Melnick are facing serious blue-green algae challenges in their respective provinces, and I believe today's action by the federal government demonstrates that when we work together, we can achieve great things." The action the Government is taking today by proposing these regulations complement the proposed tough new national standards that will be set for sewage dumping and sewage treatment. These actions are key to improving water quality and protecting the health of Canadians. For more information, please contact: Eric Richer Press Secretary Office of the Minister of the Environment (819) 997-1441 Environment Canada Media Relations (819) 934-8008 1-888-908-8008

....Permission granted. and welcome aboard.

....FishFarmer caught something, I don't believe it! Guess I'll try and get down there this afternoon.

Cultivating perch for fish fries, posterity Mary Bergin — 2/11/2008 The Capital Times Work has begun in Milwaukee to save the yellow perch fish fry from disappearing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MILWAUKEE -- Perch fry purists get into the habit of asking "ocean" or "lake" before making a restaurant reservation, but "Great Lakes" or "Eurasian" also is a relevant part of the inquiry. A significant percentage of lake perch served during fish fries comes from Europe or Asia, says a researcher at the University of Toledo, and this is a part of what fuels UW-Milwaukee's work to raise yellow perch in a controlled environment. The motive is twofold: It preserves the species, and it enhances food production. A long-term goal is to make perch farming a viable aquaculture industry. The challenge is to "keep the product authentic but enable the commercial production of it," says J. Val Klump, director of the Great Lakes Wisconsin Aquatic Technology and Environmental Research (WATER) Institute. "The yellow perch market tends to be insatiable," he says. "If we can find a way to produce them, the demand will be there." Think of his scientists "as pioneers in the effort to keep yellow perch a favorite of the Friday night fish fry," suggests a brochure about the program's mission. Big fish dive The Lake Michigan perch population took a nosedive in the 1990s, dropping 95 percent from its high of 24 million. Zebra mussels, other invasive species, lake current changes and overfishing accounted for the change. The state Department of Natural Resources dropped the sport fishing limit from 50 to five perch per day in the mid 1990s. Commercial fishing of yellow perch, at a high of 475,000 pounds per day in Green Bay waters in the mid 1990s, hit a low of 20,000 a few years ago and presently is 100,000 pounds. No commercial fishing of perch is allowed on Lake Michigan, says William Horns, Great Lakes fisheries specialist at the DNR. The Green Bay and Lake Michigan perch populations are considered separate, he adds, for purposes of management. Klump predicts more than half of the fish we eat will be raised in controlled environments in 20 years, as a response to the anticipated collapse of the world's seafood population by 2048 and heightened concerns about world security issues. "Much of what seafood we eat is imported," says Fred Binkowski, senior scientist. "We don't know where it's growing, what it's eating" or what additives may be introduced into the diet. A fish fry with the European zander, for example, resembles walleye in taste. An entree billed as Florida grouper actually might be Asian catfish, or another fish of cheaper quality. So says Carol Stepien, genetic testing specialist and director of the Lake Erie Center at the University of Toledo. She played "fish detective" last year, at the request of a Milwaukee customer, to see whether perch in fish fries actually came from the Great Lakes. The answer was "no" in two of five cases. "I doubt if anyone could tell the difference in a taste test," Stepien says, of Eurasian vs. Great Lakes perch, and "it is lake perch, so I don't know how closely this could be regulated." From a genetic perspective, the two types of perch are close relatives but different species that became distinct 4 million to 5 million years ago. "It's like telling a human from a chimpanzee," Stepien says. Milwaukee research Milwaukee's WATER Institute raises and studies yellow perch from North Carolina, Chesapeake Bay and Lake Winnebago. Each stock is kept separate, to maintain genetic integrity, but there also is cross-breeding, to produce yellow perch that are fast-growing and more disease-resistant. Every two weeks, scientists measure fish length and width, size of fillet, nitrogen levels, water content and other factors. The Lake Winnebago stock grows noticeably slower than the other two groups, the scientists say, but colorization is better. The researchers are able to raise yellow perch to market size in 12 months, roughly one-half the time that is typical. Since conditions are controlled, mortality from invasive species is not a known factor in survival. The stock's diet is controlled, too, and costly. When in the wild, these fish are bottom feeders that eat plankton to worms, insect larvae to minnows. In an aquaculture setting, "it's $1,000 per ton of food, and much are lost to mortality, compared to $100 per ton of food in the poultry industry," says Brian Shepherd, research physiologist with the USDA. Food content is of concern. The typical fish food is made up of fish from unknown sources and diet exposure. "You need cradle-to-grave control of your product," Klump says, "raising it from your own captive brood stock." Although "we have to get away from using fish food to feed fish," Binkowski also says "there needs to be diet work done. No large supply of fish food is available that is based on plant material." He acknowledges the challenge to maintain integrity of taste: "You don't want your perch to taste like potatoes" because that is what the fish eats. Klump says perch aquaculture research is "just beginning" and is confined to the indoors at his place because "in ponds you're subject to fluctuations in the environment, and security is an issue." He is referring to a wide range of contaminants, from the deliberate dumping of toxic chemicals to the diseased bird that drops feces while flying over water. "Ten years from now, private investors will be pouring more money into this" because of consumer demand for aquaculture fish. Only 99 U.S. farms raised yellow perch in 2005, of which 29 were in Wisconsin. Supply and demand The value of yellow perch caught commercially in 2004 was $2.5 million (1.6 million pounds), a decline from the previous year's intake of $2.9 million and 1.7 million pounds, says the National Marine Fisheries Service. Less than 2 percent of U.S. seafood comes from the Great Lakes region. The market price of European harvested yellow perch is one-fourth to one-third that of Great Lakes perch, which sells at the retail level for $15 per pound or more. "You aren't likely to get $9.99 for fish fries in the Great Lakes and have them be Great Lakes perch," is the way Stepien sees it, and she's at a loss to explain "why it costs so much less to import these fish," especially when transportation of product is considered. The 14,000 yellow perch so far raised to market size at the WATER Institute tend to head to Schwarz Fish Co. in Sheboygan, for filleting and sale. The WATER Institute has been known to keep a stash, too, for serving the occasional dignitary. Staff researcher Dan Szmania, who also is the staff cook, breaded and fried 60 pounds of perch during a meal for U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago and others touring the WATER Institute. Kohl had played a key role in securing federal money for aquaculture research. Why is it all such a big deal, if Great Lakes and Eurasian perch taste pretty much the same? Return to Stepien's "human vs. chimp" observation for a clue. "We must preserve the species," she says, "or you'll lose your native strains."

Risk of flooding higher this year due to significant snowpack February 13, 2008 grandriver.ca The combination of frozen ground and a significant snowpack means there is a high risk of flooding in the Grand River watershed this spring, says a report prepared by the Grand River Conservation Authority. Whether flooding actually occurs will depend on what happens during the spring melt, according to the report presented Wednesday to the annual meeting of municipal flood co-ordinators, attending from communities across the watershed. The winter started with dry conditions through November, but precipitation falling both as rain and snow has been at or above the long term average in the months since. Water stored in the snowpack has a potential to contribute to spring floods, and a lot of this water was lost in the snow melt and resulting minor flooding event of January. However, this has left the ground frozen and saturated with water, and snow recently received has returned the snowpack amount to near normal levels. The major GRCA reservoirs have between 52% and 84% of their storage capacity available for flood control. The Shand and Conestogo dams particularly have storage enough for the water in the snowpack, but not enough to accommodate heavy rains in conjunction with melting snow. As a result, in the coming weeks the reservoir levels will be monitored along with snowpack conditions, and adjusted as necessary in preparation for the spring snow melt. Whether a major flood occurs is dependent on how the spring thaw unfolds. “Fifty millimeters (2 inches) of rain, in combination with a quick spring thaw or heavy rain on frozen or saturated ground would set the stage needed to cause a major flood,” said the report. The report also pointed out the potential for flooding from ice jams this year, stating, “the potential for ice jam-related flooding this spring is high.” Rivers are starting to re-freeze with the recent low temperatures, and a rapid snow melt could combine with river ice to cause localized ice jam flooding. These conditions are being monitored at known ice jam locations throughout the watershed such as West Montrose, Cayuga and below Brantford. There is also the potential for an ice jam at the mouth of the Grand River, at Port Maitland on Lake Erie. A jam here could back water up the river, threatening Port Maitland and Dunnville and preventing ice from moving out of the Grand into the lake. In past years, a Coast Guard ice breaker has been brought in to break up a jam there. Earlier in January, there was localized flooding in Port Maitland and Dunnville from wind-caused high Lake Erie levels. This potential remains, given similar conditions. In other business at the meeting, GRCA staff reviewed the operation of the flood forecasting and warning system. They also went over the responsibilities of municipal flood co-ordinators whey they receive a flood warning message. Other presentations outlined the findings of Wellington County’s two flood emergency planning exercises held in 2007, and updated information for attendees on the types of mapping and river information available on the GRCA website. For both the public and local officials, real time river and reservoir information is available in the “River Data” section of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca.

BRP kicks off Evinrude 100th anniversary celebrations by Johanne Denault fishingworld.com (Feb. 14, 2008 - Miami, FL)... BRP is kicking off its year-long 100th anniversary celebrations of the Evinrude brand at the Miami International Boat Show. This iconic brand that created the boating industry as we know it today has survived through a century of triumphs and challenges, and BRP continues that leadership into the future. In attendance were the grandchildren of the inventor of the first commercialized outboard engines: Tom and Sally Evinrude, children of Ralph Evinrude who, with his father Ole, lead the evolution of the 100-year old brand. Among the guests were an important group of dealers, boat builders, and distributors who support BRP’s efforts in expanding Evinrude engines’ product offering worldwide. "By letting people throw away the oars, Evinrude outboard engines have introduced scores of people to the joys of boating and turned these people into lifelong boating enthusiasts," said Roch Lambert, vice president and general manager of the outboard engine division at BRP. "Indeed, in its proud history, Evinrude has sold more engines worldwide than any other outboard manufacturer. People know that buying an Evinrude means buying a trusted brand name that delivers everything they want in an outboard engine," he added. Still Reinventing Boating Today For 100 years, the Evinrude name has been synonymous with boating innovation. From the earliest innovations to today’s Evinrude E-TEC technology, Evinrude engines have been helping people spend more time enjoying their boating experience. This history of innovation continues today. Today’s Evinrude E-TEC engines deliver an unmatched boating experience, with more power, better fuel efficiency and less maintenance than any other engine. All this means more of what boaters want most: spending more time on the water to create lasting memories. Evinrude E-TEC is also the most environmentally friendly outboard motor in the world, receiving such accolades as the EPA Clean Air Technology Excellence Award and authorization to be used on Lake Constance, the pristine waters bordering Switzerland, Austria and Germany. With Evinrude, boaters know their engine will maintain the condition of the waters they love. A Bright Future BRP revived and strengthened the Evinrude brand with the introduction of the Evinrude E-TEC outboard engine. Combining 100 years of experience with Evinrude, 50 years of Ski-Doo® snowmobiles, 40 years of Sea-Doo® personal watercraft, and nearly 90 years of Rotax® engines, no other powersports company can demonstrate such commitment to this industry nor match BRP’s portfolio of innovative, trend-setting and market-shaping products. "That commitment to industry leadership is today stronger than ever. A few weeks ago, we launched the 50th anniversary celebrations of Ski-Doo snowmobiles and introduced a Ski-Doo snowmobile powered by a Rotax engine to which we adapted the E-TEC technology. This certainly attests our commitment to this technology as well as to our quest for meaningful innovations and more eco-friendly products," said José Boisjoli, president and CEO, BRP. "As we celebrate Evinrude 100th and Ski-Doo 50th anniversaries, we need to remind ourselves where we come from as a company and to remember that we have a duty of perpetuating this great heritage of ours. In the last year, we announced major investments in three new centers of excellence focused on developing advanced technologies and on bringing design and innovation to another level. This is our commitment to our customers and to powersports enthusiasts," concluded Boisjoli. Bombardier Recreational Products, a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo® and Lynx™ snowmobiles; Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats; Evinrude® and Johnson® outboard engines; Can-Am™ all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, and Rotax® engines and karts; and direct injection technologies such as E-TEC®.

A Leamington, Ont., commercial fishing company and a gillnet tug captain have been fined $3,450 in the Ontario Court of Justice at Chatham for using illegal nets, according to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The Family Fish Co., Ltd., which owns the license, was fined $1,150. The captain of the vessel Mummery Bros., John Lablance, 38, of Wallaceburg, Ont., was fined $2,300. The OMNR seized the nets. The case stems from an inspection by provincial conservation officers last July 25, during which they discovered 19 illegally undersized gill nets on the Mummery Bros. tug. The legal minimum size of gillnets, which resemble huge volleyball nets and which kill virtually all fish they ensnare, is set at 2 1/4 inches to select for commercially marketable yellow perch. Smaller, illegal-sized mesh would catch smaller fish. The OMNR maintains two toll-free tip-lines to report violations, 1-877-TIPS-MNR and 1-800-222-TIPS.

Plan aims to slow perch stock decline Friday, February 15, 2008 Steve Pollock / toledoblade.com Ohio fish managers formally have proposed a reduction from 30 to 25 a day in the sport fishing creel limit for yellow perch in western Lake Erie. The plan recently was presented to the rules-making Ohio Wildlife Council, which will decide on the rule change on April 2. Before then the public will have opportunities to comment and testify, respectively, at district wildlife open houses on March 2 and a statewide hearing in Columbus on March 6. The northwest district open house is at 952 Lima Ave., Findlay. The statewide hearing is at Wildlife District One offices, 1500 Dublin Rd., Columbus. Directions to the open houses can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or online at www.ohiodnr.com. The proposed creel reduction, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has said, is aimed at easing fishing pressure on the western basin perch stock, which has been in a decline because of low production in several recent year-classes. The creel limit would remain unchanged at 30 a day in waters east of Huron. Ohio anglers exceeded the western basin catch-quota by about 20 percent in 2007, according to the division, which also is seeking to close the basin this year to commercial trapnetting of perch. Netters took just under their allocation of basin perch in 2007, but sport anglers took well above the sport allotment. Jeff Tyson, supervisor at the state's Lake Erie Fisheries Research Station at Sandusky, said the proposed net closure is not a part of the OWC proposal because it is being pursued under rules that implement Senate Bill 77. The bill became law last Oct. 10 and seeks to more strictly monitor and control perch netting in the wake of a lakefront perch industry racketeering scandal revolving around extensive underreporting of commercial perch catches.

2008 Lake Erie Fishing Outlook great 2003 hatches of walleye and yellow perch should provide excellent angling opportunities February 11, 2008 Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council COLUMBUS, OH - Lake Erie anglers should enjoy another year of exceptional fishing in 2008, according to biologists with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. "Lake Erie remains one of the greatest natural resources in our country," said Roger Knight, Lake Erie fisheries program manager at ODNR. "Where else but Lake Erie can an angler find such diversity of fish species and sizes? We anticipate excellent fishing opportunities once again this year for walleye and yellow perch, as well as strong fisheries for other species like smallmouth bass, white bass and steelhead." Knight noted that anglers should have access to good fishing in the western and central basins due to the numerous public boat ramps, private marinas and shoreline areas. The large number of charter boats on the Ohio shore is also an asset. Walleye Ohio walleye anglers can expect to catch fish mostly from the 2003 hatch, with continued contributions from 1999 and 2001 hatches, as well as some fish from the 2005 hatch. Walleye from the 2003 hatch will be 20 to 24 inches long, while fish from the earlier hatches will range from 21 to 27 inches over the course of the fishing season. Fish from the 2005 hatch should be in the 15 to 18-inch range. Large walleye from strong hatches in the 1980s and mid-1990s still persist in the population, providing "Fish Ohio" trophy (more than 28 inches) opportunities. "The walleye fishery in 2007 was better than the phenomenal fishery that we saw in 2006," said Knight. "Weather permitting, we expect to have another year of excellent walleye fishing, with an unbelievable average size of more than 20 inches in the catch." The daily bag limit remains four fish per person during March and April, and six fish from May through February 2009. The 15-inch minimum size limit is in effect during the entire season. Yellow Perch Perch anglers should encounter excellent numbers of 9 to 12-inch fish from the 2003 hatch this year, although perch numbers will be down slightly over 2007. Moderate hatches from 2005 and 2006 should contribute some smaller fish to the harvest as well, with a few jumbos from the 2001 hatch present. Anglers will continue to see larger fish in the central basin of Lake Erie, as compared to the western basin. There is no minimum size limit for yellow perch. The Division of Wildlife is proposing changes to the daily bag limit for yellow perch in western Lake Erie, pending public input and approval by the Ohio Wildlife Council. Details about the proposal will be forthcoming through public announcements. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth bass fishing is expected to be good in 2008, with contributions from hatches in the 1990s and 2003. Fish should range in size from 14 to 21 inches and weigh 1.5 to 5 pounds. Bass fishing is best around areas with bottom structure, which is available across much of the entire Ohio near-shore area. ODNR biologists have seen several good hatches in recent years, potentially contributing to good smallmouth bass fishing in the future. A closed season remains in effect from May 1 through June 27, during which all black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) must be immediately released. Beginning June 28, the daily bag limit will remain at five fish, with a 14-inch minimum length limit. Steelhead Steelhead anglers should enjoy great fishing in Ohio's Lake Erie tributaries throughout the fall, winter and spring months. Good fishing opportunities will also exist on the open lake, when schools of fish can be located. Peak steelhead action on Lake Erie can be found offshore from June through August between Vermilion and Conneaut, with catches measuring 17 to 29 inches. Most Lake Erie anglers trolling for steelhead in deep waters use spoons with dipsy divers or downriggers. The daily bag limit remains at five fish per person from May 16 to August 31 and two fish between September 1 and May 15, with a 12-inch minimum size limit throughout the year. White Bass White bass will continue to offer seasonal fishing opportunities in both tributaries and the open lake. The catch will include many 10 to 14-inch fish from the 2005 and 2003 hatches. The 2006 hatch was moderate, and should contribute some 8 to 9-inch fish to the fishery. Anglers should focus on major western basin tributaries during May and June and near-shore areas of the open lake during summer months. There is no daily bag or size limit on white bass. Anglers are also advised of numerous fishing opportunities in the bays and harbors on the Ohio shoreline. These inlets offer excellent fishing for panfish, including crappie and bluegill, as well as largemouth bass. In early spring, anglers may also catch an occasional northern pike or muskellunge in vegetated areas. Anglers are reminded that fishing conditions on Lake Erie can change hourly and adjustments are often necessary to improve success. Anglers should take into account such factors as water temperature, cloud cover, water clarity, boat traffic, wave action, structure and the amount of baitfish in the area. Anglers are also reminded to carefully monitor Lake Erie weather and to seek safe harbor before storms approach. During the season, ODNR provides an updated Lake Erie fishing report online at wildohio.com and at 1-888-HOOKFISH. Division of Wildlife staff members are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at Fairport Harbor (440-352-4199) for central basin information and at Sandusky (419-625-8062) for western basin information. For additional information on lodging, charter boat services and local launch ramps, contact one of the following lakeshore visitor's bureaus: Ashtabula County CVB 800-337-6746 Lake County Visitors Bureau 800-368-5253 Greater Cleveland CVB 800-321-1001 Lorain County Visitors Bureau 800-334-1673 Sandusky/Erie Cty Visitors Bureau 800-255-8070 Ottawa County Visitors Bureau 800-441-1271 Greater Toledo CVB 800-243-4667 Ohio Div Travel & Tourism 800-BUCKEYE For more info on fisheries resources, research, maps, etc: www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/fishing/fairport/index.htm

BRP launches www.shopevinrude.com Their outboard parts & accessories online store Sturtevant, WI, February 6, 2008 – BRP has launched its Evinrude and Johnson Genuine Parts and Accessories online shopping tool. The new resource simplifies buying outboard engine parts, accessories, and clothing by broadening our ability to find the products they need at anytime in just minutes. Simply log on to www.shopevinrude.com and the genuine parts you need for an Evinrude or Johnson outboard, Evinrude-branded apparel, or boating and engine accessories, can be conveniently ordered and delivered to your doorstep. "Buying Evinrude & Johnson Genuine Parts, Accessories, and Clothing has never been easier" says Roch Lambert, vice president and general manager, Outboard Marine Engines, BRP. "Our new e-commerce solution allows consumers the convenience of shopping from home around their busy schedules," he concluded. Authorized BRP/Evinrude full line dealers can participate in order fulfillment by visiting http://www.shopatron.com/retailers/evinrudesignup and enrolling today. The turnkey sales tool enables dealers to rapidly acquire new customers and turn inventory quickly with minimal transaction time. BRP provides participating dealers with real-time sales data to see what is selling locally and nationally, enabling them to make smart purchasing decisions for product stocking. The new web store is currently available to U.S. consumers and dealers and will be made available in Canada later this spring.

New methods developed to estimate Sea Lamprey Damage Unique “signatures” in lamprey blood indicate specific fish which lampreys have preyed February 11, 2008 Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council ANN ARBOR, MI-A research team has developed new methods for estimating the diets of the lamprey, one of the most devastating species to have invaded the Great Lakes. Measuring the diets of lamprey will give scientists and managers a better picture of how much ecological and economic damage each sea lamprey causes over its life cycle. While the findings support the long-held belief lamprey prefer to feed on large fish like lake trout, they also indicate that sea lamprey affect many other species, and that those effects differ from time to time and place to place. In a study funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a group of federal, tribal and university researchers teamed with agencies, commercial fisheries and anglers to capture sea lamprey throughout Lake Superior, mainly from 2002 to 2004. The researchers examined the chemistry of lamprey tissues because certain types of carbon and nitrogen atoms, known as isotopes, yield clues about which fish species the sea lamprey feed upon. "A fish like a lake trout from Lake Superior has a fairly predictable 'signature' of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in its blood," said Dr. Chris Harvey, a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and one of the study's lead researchers. "When a sea lamprey feeds on lake trout, we start to see the lake trout's isotopic signature appear in the lamprey tissues. If it feeds on other species as well, the lamprey's tissue chemistry looks more like a blend of signatures." Sea lamprey invaded the upper Great Lakes after moving through the Welland Canal, probably in the early 20th Century. Reviled for their impacts on lake trout, salmon, and other fish populations, lamprey feed by rasping through the sides of fish and consuming blood and fluids. Although their numbers were reduced dramatically starting in the 1960s, lamprey continue to kill large numbers of lake trout and other valuable species. The researchers found that lamprey throughout most of Lake Superior fed mainly on large, predatory fish during the study period. Between 60% and 90% of their diet was blood from predators like lake trout and possibly burbot. They also found that lamprey in western waters of the lake had more diverse diets than in eastern waters, with substantial feeding on whitefish and suckers. In Black Bay, a large bay in northwestern Lake Superior, over 50% of the lamprey diet was whitefish blood. Preliminary results suggest lamprey impacts are felt by many species throughout the fish community besides lake trout. Some economically valuable species like herring and whitefish experience significant mortality, while some species that are less valuable, such as the deepwater siscowet, act as "buffer" species, absorbing sea lamprey impacts that might have otherwise affected fish with more commercial or recreational importance. The research confirmed that lampreys prefer to feed on large fish like lake trout, though it also indicated lampreys affect many other species, and that those effects differ from time to time and place to place. "This refined view of who lamprey feed on at different times and in different areas is a big step," Harvey said. "Many of the pioneering impact models were forced to guess which species lamprey were killing. Our study removes some of that guesswork, and we hope it will lead to better accounting of the actual damage that sea lamprey do."

Yamaha’s F350 V8 5.3-Liter Four-Stroke Outboard Wins "Best of the Year" Award from Motor Boating by Martin Peters, Mgr Communications / [email protected] Feb. 11, 2008 - Kennesaw, GA Yamaha Marine Group announced today that its F350, the industry’s first V8 5.3-liter four-stroke outboard, has won a "Best of the Year" award for 2007 from Motor Boating®. The award will be presented to Yamaha Marine Group President Phil Dyskow on Thurs., Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the Yamaha booth at the Miami International Boat Show®. Motor Boating’s® "Best of the Year" awards celebrate innovations and exceptional events that take place during each calendar year. This year, the magazine presented 11 awards spanning several categories including: engines, electronics, boats, and most heroic boater. "Yamaha really shattered the technology barriers when they unveiled the industry’s first V8," said Jeanne Craig, executive editor, Motor Boating®. "We are pleased to present Yamaha with this award and applaud the company’s bold innovation and ability to take outboards to the next level in terms of power and thrust." Launched at the 2007 Miami International Boat Show®, the F350 produces a 350 prop-shaft rated horsepower, and is designed to provide massive thrust for the heaviest off-shore outboard-powered boats. At the same time, displacement means the engine makes 350 horsepower without the strain and internal pressures found in high-output, small displacement engines. Though the Yamaha brand is already known for reliability, the company has deliberately raised the standard with the F350. For example, it is more resistant to the potential for water intrusion. It also uses a number of new technologies, including: ionic combustion sensors that constantly monitor combustion conditions and adjust spark timing; a dimpled outer cylinder sleeve to reduce oil consumption; the new Enhanced Ultimate Corrosion Protection System (UCP-II™) with additional sacrificial anodes; an innovative internal paint process and new-generation head gaskets; and Yamaha’s Command Link® Digital Electronic Control system with redundant electronic engine control, automatic multi-engine synchronization and electronic throttle and shift. The Yamaha F350 provides up to 45 percent more thrust than 250-hp class outboards. The company’s first V8 outboard powerhead was designed specifically for the marine market and features more than 600 new parts. The design is a 60-degree V8 with 32 valves (four valves per cylinder) and double overhead cams. It uses variable camshaft timing to optimize the engine’s torque at low and mid-range rpm. With sequential, multi-point fuel injection, it has eight long intake tracks in the induction system to optimize power. In addition, it features In-Bank Exhaust with Dual Power Surge Chambers, a system that relieves pressure in the exhaust ports. The F350 was designed from the beginning to power off-shore boats. However, it employs a number of new features designed to even further enhance its off-shore capabilities. A component of the UCP-II Ultimate Corrosion Protection System is an industry exclusive paint process for the proprietary Yamaha aluminum alloy engine block. It combats corrosion both inside and out, protecting the cooling passages and other key components. In addition, the outboard uses an "Ultra-Tough" gear case with dual water inlets for improved cooling. Inside the lower unit are hardened gears and enhanced bearings and surfaces for greater off-shore durability. Forged motor mounts and an oversized mounting bracket also add to the F350’s portfolio of toughness. Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Group, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,200 U.S. dealers and OEM partners with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard company to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception.

....Well ain't he special and I mean that in the kindest of ways Roger.

....Okay unless I fried the entire board you should be able to reply to threads.

...Well that's easily done if there's enough interest. Is there enough interest?

....If you're not checking out the OFC News section you're missing some good reading such as.... Salmon farms destroying wild salmon populations in Canada: study Trout Unlimited opposes plans to stock brown trout High Winds Tilt Lake Erie's Surface 4.7 metres and.... Students spread message on protecting Lake Simcoe; Georgian College group talks with ice fishermen

Ice warnings should be posted, survivor says Woman says she didn’t know about weakness near plant Gord Young February 12, 2008 North Bay Nugget Thin ice on Lake Nipissing near the city’s sewage plant outflow pipe should be marked, says a woman who narrowly escaped drowning Saturday after her truck plunged through the weak spot. “I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t speak out,” said Nicole Neff, who’s afraid the next time a vehicle crashes through the shaky ice that those inside won’t be as lucky as she and her passenger were this weekend. Neff and her business partner, Melanie Rowley, who was her passenger that afternoon, managed to climb out a window and crawl to safety after the unstable ice collapsed beneath the weight of the truck in which they were travelling. “Something has to be done,” said Neff, who has since learned that thin ice near the outflow pipe, which pumps out warmer water from the sewage treatment plant on Memorial Drive, is an annual winter safety hazard. She said longtime city residents may be aware of the weak ice across from the sewage plant. But Neff, an owner of Bay Builders who has lived in the city for three years, said she didn’t know of the danger and believes she’s not alone. She said she knows people who have lived in North Bay their entire lives who also weren’t aware of the danger, not to mention tourists who are encouraged to visit the lake to snowmobile and ice fish. Neff planned to voice her concerns to municipal politicians during Monday night’s committee discussions, but discovered after attending the talks that public presentations are limited to council meetings. Whether it’s the city, Ontario Provincial Police, or some other agency, Neff said she wants someone to take responsibility for warning the public and marking the thin ice. OPP, which is responsible for policing the lake, has issued warnings on numerous occasions in the past about poor ice conditions near the sewage plant, as well as other locations. But there may be liability concerns associated with placing markers on the ice, especially since going on the lake during the winter is considered to be an “at-your-own-risk” activity. Neff said she’s relived the accident in her mind almost every hour since it occurred. And she’s convinced there’s a better way to prevent another accident from happening in the same location than word of mouth.

Salmon farms destroying wild salmon populations in Canada: study Tuesday, February 12, 2008 The Canadian Press A young pink salmon infected with sea lice. (Courtesy of Alexandra Morton/Science) Salmon farming operations have reduced wild salmon populations by up to 70 per cent in several areas around the world and are threatening the future of the endangered stocks, says a new scientific study. The research by two Canadian marine biologists showed dramatic declines in the abundance of wild salmon populations whose migration takes them past salmon farms in Canada, Ireland and Scotland. "Our estimates are that they [the farms] reduced the survival of wild populations by more than half," Jennifer Ford, lead author of the study published Monday in the Public Library of Science journal, said in Halifax. "Less than half of the juvenile salmon from those populations that would have survived to come back and reproduce actually come back because they're killed by some mechanism that has to do with salmon farming." The authors, including the late Halifax biologist Ransom Myers, claim the study is the first of its kind to take an international view of stock sizes in countries that have significant salmon aquaculture industries. Wild salmon populations in Atlantic Canada have been hit the hardest, Ford said, with rivers in New Brunswick and Newfoundland that have stocks that swim past farms dropping steeply over the years. The scientists compared the survival of wild salmon that travel near farms to those that don't, finding that upward of 50 per cent of the salmon that do pass by farms don't survive. Study builds on previous research "There's really strong evidence that this can have impacts on wild salmon and in particular in places like Atlantic Canada, where Atlantic salmon populations are doing so badly," Ford said. "It's worrying." The paper didn't look at the causes of the declines, which have been discussed in a series of studies over the last decade that have linked the reductions to disease, interbreeding of escaped salmon and lice from farmed fish. An article last December asserted that Canadian fish farming is destroying wild salmon stocks and could completely wipe them out within four years in one area of British Columbia. The study, published in the journal Science, contends that aquaculture damages wild populations by infecting juveniles with fatal parasites. Trevor Swerdfager, director general of aquaculture management for the federal fisheries department, said he will take a close look at the new research. But he added he has so far not seen any proof that salmon farms harm wild populations. "We look at the impact of salmon farming on wild salmon — if there is one — and we just haven't seen those sort of impacts," he said from Ottawa. Stock declines are a mystery, Fisheries official says Stock declines, particularly in the Bay of Fundy, are still a bit of a mystery, Swerdfager said, but there are other pressures at play that could be linked to the reductions. Ecosystem changes, fishing and other stresses linked to climate change are likely having an effect on the health of the wild populations, he said. "Atlantic salmon populations are not what they were historically, but can you tie that to the absence or presence of salmon farms? I don't think so," he said, adding that researchers looking at that stock have never linked the decline to farms. The latest research by Ford, which covered a period from 2003 to 2006, also looked at a large region off British Columbia, which has a substantial salmon aquaculture industry. Ford said only pink salmon that passed by salmon farms in that region showed sharp declines. She said some salmon populations in the Bay of Fundy are endangered while one has become extinct. She and Myers, who died last year after the research was complete, found that the number of juvenile salmon that return to the bay to spawn is less than 10 fish a year whereas there were hundreds of them in the 1980s.