Ohio Agriculture Director Extends Emergency Order Restricting Movement of Disease-Susceptible Fish
http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/oda3/Oda_Index.stm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (May 16, 2008) - Ohio Agriculture Director Robert Boggs today issued a proclamation, extending the emergency order issued in May 2007, that prohibits the intrastate transportation, sale or distribution of 28 fish species susceptible to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) out of the affected region in northern Ohio.
"The Ohio Department of Agriculture is charged with the responsibility of protecting animals from potentially devastating diseases," Boggs said. "This emergency order not only protects Ohio's fish population but others in points beyond the state's borders."
VHS is a fish disease, which must be reported to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) under state law. VHS was introduced into the wild fish population by an invasive species. It is not harmful to humans or other animals.
Testing to date performed by ODA's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has revealed that VHS is not present inland in Ohio. The department will continue to test and monitor for the disease.
Ohio's ban prohibits intrastate distribution of VHS-susceptible fish or eggs out of the area in Ohio north of U.S. Highway 6 from the Indiana border to the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and Interstate 90 near Fremont, continuing on I-90 to the Pennsylvania border. This also includes the Sandusky River south of U.S. Highway 6 to the Ballville Dam.
VHS-susceptible fish include: Black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, brown trout, burbot, channel catfish, Chinook salmon, emerald shiner, freshwater drum, gizzard shad, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, shorthead redhorse, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, rock bass, round goby, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, spottail shiner, trout-perch, walleye, white bass, white perch, and yellow perch.
The prohibition is in effect in Ohio until the U.S. Department of Agriculture's division of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service releases its embargo and prohibition of the movement of live VHS susceptible fish. The prohibition does not apply to live fish or eggs removed directly from production facilities that have tested negative for VHS. It also
excludes live fish or eggs that are being transported for use by research scientists in closed research facilities with diagnostic laboratories.
Media Contact: Cindy Brown, ODA Communications, 614-752-4505
Note: Proclamation and map of the state quarantined area are available at www.ohioagriculture.gov
Geoff Wallat
Aquaculture Specialist
Ohio Center for Aquaculture Development
OSU-South Centers
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon, OH 45661
740-289-2071 EXT.146
Fax 740-289-4591
Campus Line: 292-4900
Ohio Only 800-297-2072
http://southcenters.osu.edu/aqua/