Great Lakes Fish Diseases of Concern

Recreational boaters are being asked to help to preserve aquatic life in the Great Lakes and the nation’s waterways. Recent studies indicate that the introduction of new fish diseases in the Great Lakes zone is of critical concern. For example, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) has been detected in a large variety of fish caught for both food and sport. While VHS and other fish diseases do not affect humans, they have the potential to upset the ecological balance of the lakes and subsequently negatively impact human wellbeing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has launched an initiative to educate sports fishermen and recreational boaters on how they can help stop the spread of fish and aquatic plant diseases. Visit www.focusonfishhealth.org for more information.