Fish hatchery euthanizes 42,000 rainbow trout
ENTERPRISE, Ore. - Over 40,000 rainbow trout were euthanized this week after a number of fish at a hatchery died from a virus.
The virus that made its way into the Wallowa Hatchery is called Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus. It is found throughout the Snake River Basin and some fish can carry it for their entire lives without any problems. However, if the virus numbers in the water supply are high or fish are stressed, it can kill them.
Hatchery manager Ron Harrod believes the virus most likely came from adult steelhead in the Wallowa River above the hatchery. Most of the trout were destined for Wallowa Lake but Harrod said the impact on fishing should be minimal.
"We will continue stocking fish according to schedule using trout from other hatcheries throughout the state," he said.
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the virus is not harmful to humans and it is safe to handle or eat hatchery fish that have it. The trout at the hatchery were euthanized because ODFW policy does not allow the release of infected fish into water bodies that are virus free.
In light of what happened, the hatchery plans to cut its trout production from 50,000 fish per year to 20,000 per year, with other hatcheries making up the difference. They plan to use a second water source where the virus has not been detected.