Deadly fish virus in Winnebago Chain

[Nelson380]

The deaths last week of hundreds of sheepshead in Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Morts signal the presence of a virus responsible for massive fish kills in Lakes Erie and Ontario, a state official said.

In a development that surprised Wisconsin natural resources officials, the virus was confirmed in the water of the Lake Winnebago system of lakes along the Fox River.

It can kill many other fish species in the chain of lakes, even threatening the population of ancient sturgeon that thrive there, said Sue Marcquenski, fish health specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources.

The unchecked spread of the virus throughout Wisconsin waterways threatens the state's $2.3 billion sport fishing industry, which supports more than 26,000 jobs in the state

"Our main concern is that this virus has caused infections in so many other species, too, from bass to perch to muskies, northern pike, walleyes and shad," she said. "In the next one, two or three summers, we could lose much of those fish in the Winnebago system."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=604843