Project Information

Title: Effect of Disease on Pacific Herring Population Recovery in PWS 030462

Project Year and Number: 2003: 030462

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2002: 02462-CLO, 2001: 01462-CLO, 2000: 00462, 1999: 99462

Principal Investigator (PI): Gary Marty (BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Commercial Fishing, Pacific Herring, Subsistence

Abstract: In spring 2001, prevalence of Ichthyophonus hoferi (38 percent) in the Pacific herring population of Prince William Sound was more than 50 percent greater than in any year studied (1989-2000). I. hoferi causes severe, disseminated, chronic disease in Pacific herring that is best diagnosed using histopathology. Before 2001, I. hoferi was not associated with unexpected declines in population biomass. But during the last century, increases in I. hoferi prevalence in Atlantic herring have been associated with several disease outbreaks. To understand the significance of the 2001 I. hoferi outbreak, this project will analyze samples already collected in fall 2001 and spring 2002 as part of Project 02462.


Proposal: View (164 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: View (541 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available