Experts tackle fish disease in Alberta

One option is to take all fish from Johnson Lake

As some federal officials work to determine how widespread whirling disease is across Alberta, others are considering whether they need to remove all of the fish or even drain Johnson Lake in Banff National Park.

Canada’s first case of the contagious fish disease was confirmed in the small, shallow lake in mid-August.

During an expert panel discussion on whirling disease at the North American Lake Management Society symposium in Banff last week, officials with Parks Canada said they are now determining how to deal with Johnson Lake.

“It has the characteristics of a potential hot spot,” Bill Hunt, manager of resource conservation with Banff National Park, said in an interview after the session.

“We need to sample more, but what actions can we take and what’s the feasibility of trying to reduce the risks at Johnson Lake?”

Hunt said one consideration is the removal of all of the fish and even draining part or all of the 20-hectare lake.

It comes as provincial and federal officials work to determine how prevalent whirling disease — named after the circular swimming patterns of infected fish — is throughout Alberta.

Whirling disease has so far been confirmed in 15 locations by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which monitors diseases that are important to aquatic health or the Canadian economy.

It can be spread by people or birds, and affects six species of cold-water fish found in Alberta: cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, brown trout, bull trout and brook trout.

Ten of the 15 confirmed locations are within Banff National Park, while four are commercial fish farms in Alberta and one is Lott Creek closer to Calgary.

Dr. Kim Klotins, a veterinary program specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said they are still working to determine the geographic extent of the disease in Alberta.

“Our primary goal is to establish areas of absence and areas of presence,” she said during her presentation, noting more samples are still being tested.

Hunt said it’s unlikely any action would be taken on Johnson Lake before next winter, noting there are still a number of steps to be taken before any decision would be made to drain the lake.

“It’s just a theory, or something that we’re considering,” he said. “We’re considering everything.”