Yukon River King Salmon Parasite Linked To Warmer Water - ADN

[hatrack]

"A stubborn marine parasite has been infecting more Yukon River chinooks over the past two years, sometimes rendering the prized salmon of the Interior virtually inedible with a fruity odor and ruined meat.

The illness, caused by a common microorganism that targets ocean fish, was detected in about 35 percent of king salmon sampled in 2002 and 2003, said Richard Kocan, a fish pathologist overseeing a study for the federal Office of Subsistence Management. That's a significant increase over the number of infected fish found in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

"This is a statistical red flag that something is going on," Kocan told the Federal Subsistence Board during a work session on Tuesday afternoon. "If this persists, you may be looking at evidence that the infection is spreading."

Global warming may play a role too, possibly explaining why the outbreak occurred in the first place, Kocan said. Some Yukon chinook now spend June and July migrating upstream through water warmed to 59 degrees or higher, temperatures that allow the parasite to spread faster and kill its hosts more quickly. "Some of these fish are swimming within a few degrees of lethal temperatures for healthy salmon, and we know many of them are infected," he said."

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http://www.adn.com/front/story/4677754p-4631475c.html