
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 15, 1994                   TAG: 9410170072
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: COLONIAL BEACH                                LENGTH: Short

INFECTION WON'T STOP RECOVERY OF ROCKFISH

Bacteria that cause sores on some Chesapeake Bay rockfish should not imperil the recovery of the federally protected species or threaten humans, a Maryland official said.

The bacterium Edwardsiella tarda was identified this week as the source of the infection in wild rockfish, also known as striped bass. The microorganism has been known to infect commercially raised fish, but this is the first time it has been known to infect wild fish.

``This is not to be unexpected in a resurging species,'' said Dr. Eric May, who handles a fish health and disease program for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Under regulations that have severely limited fishing, rockfish numbers in the bay have climbed 25 percent annually for four years.

``A recovering species that is greatly expanding its population very often will go through some sort of pathogen or disease spontaneously,'' May said.

So far, no fish kills have been found, but scientists have not had time to sample all parts of the bay.

May said up to 15 percent of the rockfish in the Potomac and Maryland's portion of the bay may be infected with the bacterium, based on his pound net findings.

- Associated Press

by CNB