TITLE: Scientists discuss fish lesion causes
BYLINE: FROM WIRE DISPATCHES AND STAFF REPORTS
EST. PAGES: 1
DATE: 08/03/97
DOCID: WATI249618
SOURCE: The Washington Times; WATI
EDITION: 2; SECTION: A;METROPOLITAN TIMES;METRO
BRIEFS;MARYLAND;SALISBURY; PAGE: A9
(Copyright 1997)
Scientists have reached "a loose consensus" that
a microorganism responsible for killing billions of fish in North
Carolina is at least partly responsible for lesions found in fish
in the Pocomoke River, Secretary of Natural Resources John Griffin
said yesterday.
Mr. Griffin's comment came midway through a weekend conference
on fish lesions that attracted about 70 scientists and officials
representing state and federal governments.
Panels of experts explored various possible causes of the
lesions, which have been reported in various locations around
the Chesapeake Bay, primarily in the Pocomoke.
Much of the attention yesterday centered on a discussion
by researchers from Florida and North Carolina about pfiesteria
piscicida, the culprit in the huge North Carolina fish kills,
which was referred to by JoAnne Burkholder of North Carolina State
University as "the cell from hell."
Pfiesteria is a single-cell algae that has 24 life stages and usually is not toxic to fish, Ms. Burkholder said.
It seems to be "turned on" by something excreted by fish and needs fairly high concentrations of the substance to become toxic, she said. That makes the problem less severe in Maryland, where there is more movement of water, Ms. Burkholder said