Document aDxJXV8eqvpJ3Rw31KwzjvDdY

JgM" JUL2 JS7S High Mortality Alarms Boyne's Atlantic . i ., Salmon In Danger By DAVE PITT : "R'a nothing we're doing at this end of the process (meaning BOYNE CfTY-The Department of Natural Resources (DNK) the causa of the mortality is not in the river)," Swan aald. 'Tm la bringing In (ran Canada next weak an expert In the effect of convinced it's aomethlng to do with the Big Lake." poUutton on flail In the (nat Ulna to determine It chemical* each "The Atlantic Salmon la Justa greet flab for thla eras and we're aa PCPand PCB are (be cauae of the high mortality rata of the going to do everything we possibly can to make this program go. Atlantic Salmtn. ' , It'sreally depressing to see all these flah just die." The Atlantic Salmon haa been planted In the Boyne River etnoa Lika Last Year ltn and tt haa bean charactariied by a high mortality rata upon Swan said theAtlantlcs are showing the same symptoms as last Ite return to the Boyne to apaam. The mortality rate haa reached year-red spots on their bodies which turn to open sores or Mona. 10>percent thin nmunor In flah trapped In the river by the DNR. Thefirii then turn dark, become lethargic and die. Have Swan, district (lib blologlft from Gaylord, aald the DNR "Wa've checked literally all over the world and no one else hm haa trapped 17 of the Atlantic! ao far thla aummar near a found evidence of this problem," he aald. pawning pond In the river and another 15 at die mouth of the Swan Is asking all fishermen and boaters who find Atlantic river and they are all dead or dying. Salmon, either daad or alive, to contact any DNR office or State Swan aald lait year no AUanttca returned to the Boyne River Park to report on the condition of the fish. The DNR Is aapectaily and all hut M dlad. Hie M that Head ware all males. Ha aald if Intareetad In Atlantlcs found In lake Michigan and It Is Ingnrhuit even 10 (emaloa aurvive thla aummar the DNR could get 50,000 for the DNR to know the location of tha Osh when It is found or egf> '. caught Dr. Ron Sonnatagard, (ran the Unlverrity of Guelph, la being The DNR planted 20,000 of the salmon stnolts this spring as part brought to the Boyne River in an effort to delennlne tt aomethlng of Its annual planting program. In 1572, the first year of die In the lake la putting atraaa on lha(Irii andcausing them to die. program. 10,0110 of the young Bah were planted; In 107915.000 ware "Dr. Sonnatagard haa done extensive work on the effect of planted; and last year 15,MO were planted. pollution In the Oreat Lakes," Swan said. "He's good and we hope Environmental Stress? he can coma up with aome answers (crux." The dead fish have been checked and are dlsaaae free, Swan Suspects PCB or PCr said. There seems to be some type of environmental stress on the Swan adipltted he himself la no expert on pollution In Lake Atlantlcs and the DNR can't flgin out what that stress Is. Michigan and he docent have any evidence, but he said he B wasthought the water temperatwe In tha Boyne River Is tee suspects PCB or PCP, which has been found In other Bah apedae high and this may be causing the problem. The temperature of tha In laki'Mlchlgan, may be the culprit. water Is 70 degrees in some spots ao the DNR dug a well and "The situation la aa bad aa you can get," the fish biologist said. pumped 47 degree water Into the river. "They're all dead. lha frustrating thing la wa dent know why Bonn said this has made no difference whatsoever In the fish they're dying. R'a really fBacouragbig, but we're not giving up mortality. He said the high water temperature may have hope." ,, ........ ,. .......... ......................... aggravated the mortality problem, but It Is not the cause. i MGNS 031105