The INDEPENDENT, February 2, 2000
Page 13
iologists studying virus found in Alsea fish hatchery steelhead
Infectious
Hematopoietic
virus (IHNV) has been detect
ed in adult steelhead spawned
at the Alsea Hatchery. This
virus is occasionally found in
other wild and hatchery stocks
in the Pacific Northwest; how
ever, this is the first time it has
been detected in the Alsea Riv
er system. Fishery managers
are concerned and are taking
steps to minimize risks associ
ated with the discovery.
IHNV was diagnosed follow
ing a routine sampling of adult
winter steelhead that were
spawned at the hatchery in late
December. The virus seldom
causes disease in adult fish;
though it can be fatal to juve
nile fish. Although the virus can
be transmitted from the adult
fish to progeny through the
spawning process, it appears
to happen rarely. IHNV is
sometimes found in steelhead
adults in the Columbia River
system, including Willamette
tributaries such as the Santi-
am, McKenzie and Clackamas
rivers. This virus is found pri
marily in salmon and trout and
is harmless to humans.
“Our goal is to contain the
disease within the adults and
not allow it to pass on to their
progeny," said Alsea Hatchery
Manager Tim Schamber. “We
will test each individual winter
steelhead, both male and fe
male and the resultant fertilized
eggs will be kept separate. In
fected eggs will be destroyed."
Adult female steelhead,
which unlike salmon, often sur
vive to spawn in succeeding
years, will be released back
into the Alsea River estuary.
head males who have been
spawned cannot be counted
upon to return directly to the
ocean if released in the estu
ary. There is a much greater
chance they might turn around
and head back upriver into the
hatchery or natural production
areas.
Biologists gave serious con
sideration to releasing the
males in lakes and ponds
where they would continue a
long-standing and popular pro
gram of expanded fishing op
portunities. However, concern
about spread of the disease to
other watersheds led to the de
cision to kill and remove the
males. Most will be provided to
food share organizations.
Those in poor condition will be
sent to a rendering plant.
Consumer Guide to Oregon Insurance Complaints
Oregonians can learn how
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to Oregon Insurance Com
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Oregon Insurance Division,
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premiums they earned in Ore
gon and the number of con
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the division.
“Complaint statistics give
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ny against its competitors,”
said to Kathy Barrie, consumer
advocate for the Insurance Di
vision. “A smart shopper looks
not only at a company’s premi-
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Since they have been stripped
of eggs, the females will head
back to the ocean. Should they
return again next year, there is
a good chance that even the in
fected females may be free of
the disease. IHNV infected
adults sometimes shed the dis
ease during another year in
salt water.
Disposition of the males is
somewhat more difficult. Steel-
• Beach Sand
• Cement Sand
ums and financial strength, but
also at its complaint record,
which is a good indicator of
customer satisfaction.”
The latest report covers
complaints closed by the Insur
ance Division in 1998 in six
major lines of insurance: per
sonal auto, homeowner, health,
health care service contractors,
life, and annuities. In addition
to the complaint rankings, the
booklet includes tips con
sumers can use to help make
informed insurance decisions
against insurance companies.
The booklet is available on
the Insurance Division’s Web
site www.cbs.state.or.us/ins or
a free printed copy can be or
dered by writing to: Publica
tions, Oregon Insurance Divi
sion, 350 Winter St. NE, Room
440, Salem, OR 97301-3883.
and to save money.
Oregon was one of only six
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formation about complaints
Your voice is heard when
you speak from the ballot
box, so please
Register and Vote
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send a check payable to De
partment of Consumer and
Business Services at the ad
dress above.
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