Hatchery Released Disease-Infected Trout
Updated: Friday, Oct. 7, 2005 - 8:58 PM
DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - A private fish hatchery released trout infected with whirling disease into rivers in New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, the state Division of Wildlife announced Thursday.
Dwight Babcock, 59, owner of Cannibal Canyon Ranches in Marvel, will have to pay $30,000 in fines and fees after pleading guilty in federal court last week to seven criminal counts of knowingly selling, transporting and stocking wildlife illegally in New Mexico and Utah, the DOW said in a statement.
As part of his plea, Babcock acknowledged releasing infected fish from his hatchery into rivers in Colorado at least 125 times between 1997 and 2003, according to DOW spokesman Joe Lewandowski. The plea follows a two-year investigation.
Babcock didn't return telephone messages left by the Durango Herald.
Fish were released in at least 72 locations in rivers and streams in La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma and Dolores counties, Lewandowski said. He was paid by private landowners.
Whirling disease gets its name because fish infected with the parasite swim around in aimless circles. It is not passed directly from fish-to-fish, but spores from the parasite, which look like a miniature red earthworm, float through the water and infect other fish.
The disease does not affect humans.
"Once whirling-disease positive fish are released, there's not much we can do," said Mike Japhet, a DOW aquatic biologist in Durango. "The only place we can logically control the disease is at the hatchery."
Babcock's hatchery first tested positive in 1997, and again in 1998, 1999, and 2002, Lewandowski said. It was recently certified as being free of whirling disease.
Babcock will not be allowed to stock rivers and streams or import fish to New Mexico. He will be allowed to release fish and sell fish to restaurants and food retailers in Colorado.
Updated: Friday, Oct. 7, 2005 - 8:58 PM
DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - A private fish hatchery released trout infected with whirling disease into rivers in New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, the state Division of Wildlife announced Thursday.
Dwight Babcock, 59, owner of Cannibal Canyon Ranches in Marvel, will have to pay $30,000 in fines and fees after pleading guilty in federal court last week to seven criminal counts of knowingly selling, transporting and stocking wildlife illegally in New Mexico and Utah, the DOW said in a statement.
As part of his plea, Babcock acknowledged releasing infected fish from his hatchery into rivers in Colorado at least 125 times between 1997 and 2003, according to DOW spokesman Joe Lewandowski. The plea follows a two-year investigation.
Babcock didn't return telephone messages left by the Durango Herald.
Fish were released in at least 72 locations in rivers and streams in La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma and Dolores counties, Lewandowski said. He was paid by private landowners.
Whirling disease gets its name because fish infected with the parasite swim around in aimless circles. It is not passed directly from fish-to-fish, but spores from the parasite, which look like a miniature red earthworm, float through the water and infect other fish.
The disease does not affect humans.
"Once whirling-disease positive fish are released, there's not much we can do," said Mike Japhet, a DOW aquatic biologist in Durango. "The only place we can logically control the disease is at the hatchery."
Babcock's hatchery first tested positive in 1997, and again in 1998, 1999, and 2002, Lewandowski said. It was recently certified as being free of whirling disease.
Babcock will not be allowed to stock rivers and streams or import fish to New Mexico. He will be allowed to release fish and sell fish to restaurants and food retailers in Colorado.
