Achi news desk-
Parks Canada says its unprecedented decision to close public access to all lakes in two of B.C.’s best-known national parks is necessary to prevent a potential disaster.
The organization said it has extended its closure of all water bodies in Kootenay and Yoho National Parks until at least March 2025.
A tremendous movement is being made to protect fish species susceptible to whirling disease.
The disease has the potential to deplete fish populations and has a mortality rate of up to 90 percent.
According to the Canadian government, whirling disease is an infectious disease of finned fish. It is caused by Myxobolus cerebralis, a protozoan in the Class Myxosporea.
“Whirling disease is not spread directly between finned fish,” the government says. “The parasite is spread through contact between finned fish and a freshwater worm (Tubifex tubifex).”
Officials know this news may disappoint some but it is a necessary step.
“We understand this may be disappointing to some of our visitors but this is Parks Canada’s mandate to protect the ecological integrity of our ecosystem,” Marie Veillard, Parks Canada Invasive Species Program manager.
The invasive parasite has already been found in six areas of Yoho National Park.
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Veillard said telltale signs of infection include a bent spine, a black tail and they can swim in a swirling pattern.
The Elk River Alliance has been sounding the alarm across the region, asking water users to diligently clean, drain and dry their equipment and stay in one location.
Evgeni Matveev, outreach coordinator for the Elk River Alliance, told Global News that one of the best ways to slow the spread of whirling disease is to allow the fish time to build up natural resistance.
“Thus, whirling disease can spread through various vectors and spread, through the transfer of fish or the movement of fish, or bird species,” he said.
“But one of the biggest ways it spreads is through the transfer of wet or dirty equipment.”
The Elk River borders the Crow’s Nest watershed, where whirling disease has been detected.
“So, as far as we know, the Elk River watershed doesn’t have anything yet,” Matveev said.
“So we’ve really been trying to push this, clean and dry, as sort of a BC and Canadian strategy.”
Matveev said one of the biggest ways it spreads is through the transfer of water and dirty utensils.
“There is no cure for whirling disease,” he said.
“Once it’s in the watershed, it’s in the watershed.”
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
