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Whirling disease threatens fish in Kootenays

CKISS urges anglers to prevent introduction whirling disease in Central Kootenay
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In fish, the parasite affects the cartilage near the spine, leading to skeletal deformities of the spine or skull. This causes the fish to abnormally whirl in a tail-chasing behaviour and/or display a blackened tail. Photo courtesy S.Hallett

A microscopic parasite is threatening fish in waterbodies in the region, and further spread of the disease it causes is of prime concern.

The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) is issuing a critical alert to all anglers in the region, urging vigilance to prevent the introduction of whirling disease into waterbodies across the Central Kootenay region.

“This urgent call comes in response to Parks Canada’s decision to close all bodies of water in British Columbia’s Kootenay and Yoho National Parks, with restrictions on watercraft in Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park until at least March next year,” a release from CKISS said.

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Barry Coulter

About the Author: Barry Coulter

Barry Coulter had been Editor of the Cranbrook Townsman since 1998, and has been part of all those dynamic changes the newspaper industry has gone through over the past 20 years.
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