SOUTH DAKOTA DEPT. OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005

CONTACT: Bob Hanten, 223-7700

Dead White Bass on Lake Oahe

PIERRE, S.D. – Fisheries officials from the Department of Game, Fish and Parks have been investigating large numbers of dead white bass that have been washing ashore during the past week on Lake Oahe.

"It is not uncommon to see a few dead fish on a normal day on the water," said GFP Fisheries Biologist Robert Hanten of Pierre. "But when we get reports of hundreds of dead fish, an investigation is necessary."

Crews have been on the water for the past few days looking for dead fish, and a number of dead and/or sick white bass have been collected. The fish were sent off to a diagnostic laboratory to determine cause of death. Results of these tests will be known in about a week.

Hanten noted that white bass die-offs are unfortunate and messy, but not uncommon, as they have occurred in South Dakota and in other parts of the nation.

"White bass die-offs have occurred in the past on Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case," Hanten said. "The exact cause of the Sharpe and Francis Case die-offs were inconclusive. However, media accounts in Oklahoma and Kansas reservoirs have attributed large white bass die-offs to protozoa and/or out-breaks of bacteria associated with warm water temperatures."

Protozoa and bacteria are found in all natural waters and do not affect healthy fish. However, when fish become stressed they are much more susceptible to diseases. Fish can experience stress due to many things, such as warm water temperatures, injuries, limited food and spawning.

Anglers and other water enthusiasts have two main concerns with this occurrence. Is there any danger to game fish populations, and is there any danger to humans?

"The fish die off has been limited to just white bass, and no other game fish have been effected," Hanten said. "At this time, we feel that the bacteria or protozoa pose no greater risk to humans than what you would normally be exposed to with untreated lake water."

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