For the first time in a year, the Village of Boyle's fish pond has been restocked with rainbow trout fish.
According to the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), the Alberta government suspended restocking in 2017 due to the risk of the fish contracting whirling disease after an assessment was conducted on the waterbodies in the area, including in Boyle.
In an email, ACA biologist Diana Rung said it has now been stocked twice since then.
"The first restock of trout took place May 18, and the second one June 4," Rung said in the email. "1,320 rainbow trout was put into the pond each time, for a grand total of 2,640 so far this year. Each fish which was put in was 22 centimetres long."
Rung said the ACA has been restocking the pond for many years prior to the suspension, and added that she is very pleased to be doing so once again.
"Since the assessment last year, the Boyle fish pond has not tested positive for having whirling disease," she said in the email. "It's what led to the government's decision to lift the suspension against restocking the pond."
At the Village of Boyle council meeting June 20, CAO Charlie Asheby said everything went good both days.
"They just showed up and did it," Ashbey said. "They were on a schedule, and they stocked us up twice. So, we are pleased that there is fish again."
According to the Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) website, whirling disease is caused by a microscopic parasite of salmonid fish, including trout, salmon and whitefish. The organism possesses a complex lifecycle that requires a salmonid fish and an aquatic-worm as hosts.
The AEP added the severity of the disease depends largely on age and size, and that young fish are the most vulnerable, with mortality rates reaching up to 90 per cent. In an AEP poster, the disease can be spread by the movement of fish, mud and water.
To help prevent whirling disease, AEP recommends that you never move live or dead fish, or fish parts, from one waterbody to another. As well, it also said to use fish cleaning stations where available, or always put parts in the trash, dry all your fishing gear throughly prior to its next use, and to avoid using felt-soled waders.
