Protection: Stopping the Spread of Whirling Disease Whirling disease has been confirmed in numerous waterbodies across the western slopes and foothills including the North Saskatchewan, Bow, Oldman, and Red Deer River watersheds. These findings mark the introduction of whirling disease to Canada. Whirling disease has the potential to severely impact populations of salmonids and their allies (in Alberta, trout, including: rainbow, cutthroat, brook, bull, brown, and lake, mountain whitefish, and arctic grayling) by causing skeletal deformations and “whirling” behaviour in fish, making them extremely susceptible to predation.
As river enthusiasts it is important that we take measures to stop the spread of whirling disease and other aquatic invasive species where we work and play. Equipment that we use in aquatic settings should be cleaned and disinfected after each use to reduce the risk of spreading the aquatic invasive species. Alberta Environment and Parks do not currently have a disinfection protocol for recreational boating; however, they are busy developing this with hopes to a protocol in place by the 3RR Festival. In the intermin, they are requesting paddlers follow the consultant and river researchers protocol found here. Whirling disease can be transferred by any equipment that comes into contact with a waterbody. |
