|
Washington, DC -- Congressmen John E. Peterson, R-Pleasantville, and Phil English, R-Erie, announced this afternoon that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has re-allocated $492,000 of federal funding to its Allegheny National Fish Hatchery (NFH) in Warren to construct and install new metal arch covers for the fish raceways on site. The steel covers will protect the existing 40 concrete raceways – the structures in which the fish are raised – from birds and other known carriers of piscatorial diseases, including the fish virus known as infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN).
“Thousands of fishermen from across the country come out to our region each year in the hope of landing the big one,” said Peterson. “Most folks may be unaware, though, that most of the fish they catch – lake and brook trout in particular – were probably raised at one of our local hatcheries. The availability of good, healthy fish is no accident, though – it’s the product of a coordinated plan of attack by local, state, and federal agencies. These funds are important to that overall plan, and will help ensure that long-term sustainability of both the Allegheny NFH and the area fish population.”
“I applaud Congressman Peterson’s leadership in helping to secure these federal funds,” English said. “This improved hatchery not only helps to ensure a steady supply of fish for local anglers but also benefits the entire region. A day of fishing is not just good, clean fun, but an important part of the recreational economy which provides thousands of good, paying jobs.”
Last September it was announced that lake and brook trout at the hatchery had tested positive for IPN, which, although not transmittable to humans, represents a severe ecological threat not only to future generations of fish, but to the surrounding aquaculture as well. To eliminate the infection, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) staff were forced to purge the entire population of fish and eggs in an effort to thoroughly disinfect the hatchery.
According to Tracy Copeland, manager of the Allegheny NFH, the metal raceway covers will go a long way toward ensuring that foreign viruses, carried mostly by predatory birds, are kept far away from developing fish. The hatchery previously employed a combination of tarps, covers, and netting overlays to protect the fry.
“We are extremely happy to be making progress toward returning the hatchery to lake trout production,” Copeland said. “The covers will allow us significantly reduce disease threats, and we believe will improve the quality of the fish we produce for Lakes Erie and Ontario.”
The Allegheny NFH, whose operations have been temporarily suspended until important refurbishments are made, is the only hatchery in the United States to rear lake trout for restoration programs on Lakes Erie and Ontario. Peterson, who serves on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the FWS, has requested additional federal funding for the hatchery in 2007.
-30-
|
|
