Whirling disease in spotlight

A disease that can deform trout, cause them to chase their own tail and eventually lead to their starvation will get special attention this year from legislators, who want to try to reduce its effects on commercial and recreational fisheries.

More than a dozen private fish hatcheries have tested positive for whirling disease in Utah since 1991, causing multiple commercial trout facilities to either shut down or be quarantined at a cost of millions of dollars to the state's economy.

"We want to make sure it's under control, that we don't have any issues that will threaten our fisheries," said Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville.

The disease, which is caused by an infectious parasite, isn't harmful to humans or other mammals, but it can be transferred by them to other cold-water fisheries through the movement of mud. The disease is also spread via birds, fish and fish parts.

"As far as how fast it spreads, it's kind of up in the air. A lot of people think it takes years and years, but water runs downstream and downhill. It normally doesn't take that long to spread downstream," said Kent Hauck, fish pathologist for the state Department of Agriculture and Food.

Whirling disease is one of about a half-dozen issues the Legislature's Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee will study this summer and fall to determine if additional legislation is needed. Typically, issues studied during an interim session that result in bills being drafted — with a favorable recommendation from the committee where they originated — have a good chance of becoming law.

Barrus, co-chairman of the committee, said Monday he's uncertain how long whirling disease will be studied or if any legislation will come from it, but protecting trout is worth the effort.

"They're extremely important, not only from the standpoint of recreation, but we have some world-class fish hatcheries here," he said. "It's of high enough importance that we certainly want to take a look."

Between 2004 and 2005, six trout operations closed — leaving 21, according to the federal National Agricultural Statistics Service. In the same period, revenue from the sale of trout dropped from $760,000 to $540,000.

Whirling disease isn't limited to Utah.