The New York State Departments of Environmental
Conservation and Parks Recreation and Historic
Preservation are working along with an independent
fisheries consultant to come up with a plan to
eventually eliminate IPN from the trout in
Connetquot State Park Preserve. It is the
understanding of the Friends, that this plan will
take into consideration all of the related issues
including fish pathology, environmental impacts on
the ecosystem, historic preservation, park
management and economics.
HEALTH
Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN)
is a virus that primarily effects juvenile trout.
IPN is not harmful to humans.
HISTORY
The hatchery has operated
successfully and continuously for over 140 years.
The presence of IPN at Connetquot
was first confirmed by tests in 2006.
The Connetquot hatchery is one of
the most successful programs in the State for Brook
Trout.
Connetquot trout are genetically
unique. Brook, brown and rainbows trout at
Connetquot have been bred from a combination of gene
pools including sea run fish. New trout may or may
not be as successful in the Connetquot River.
Connetquot Trout are almost free
from boils, square tail and other diseases. No
chemicals or drugs are currently required.
The Connetquot Hatchery is an
integral portion of the historic framework and
cultural landscape of the Connetquot Preserve.
SCIENCE
In order to eliminate IPN from
Connetquot it is important that only fish which are
IPN free are used as a source of eggs. It is also
important that fish density and water source be
carefully managed at the hatchery to eliminate
horizontal transmission of the disease.
Even if all of the fish in the
Connetquot were destroyed, there is no guarantee
that IPN would not be reintroduced in a short time
from muskrats, raccoons, rats, possums, gulls,
egrets, osprey, invertebrates and eels all of which
have constant access to the River and all of which
may carry IPN.
It is clear that a comprehensive
scientific investigation including testing of fish
at various locations in the river will be required
to attain optimal results and long term health of
Connetquot trout.
LAW
New York's State Environmental
Quality Review Act (SEQR) requires all state and
local government agencies to consider environmental
impacts equally with social and economic factors
during discretionary decision-making. SEQR requires
the agencies to balance the environmental impacts
with social and economic factors when deciding to
approve or undertake an "Action". Closing the
hatchery will impact the entire Connetquot estuary
ecosystem including Park economics, ecology and
cultural landscape including the historic buildings
and activities. No study has been done.
If the hatchery license is not
renewed there is no guarantee that the hatchery can ever be
reopened due to the potential conflict between
current regulations and the status of the hatchery
on the National Registry of Historic buildings.
NYS DEC maintains that effective
January 1, 2008 it is illegal for any one to possess
or release fish into the waters of the State of new
York unless those fish have been certified as being
IPN free within the prior 12 months. The FOC agree
that Regulation 188.1 is the enabling portion of the
Reg. which mandates a fish health certification
report as described in 188.2 on all fish to be
released. We also agree that Regulation 188.2
provides that the report indicate that the fish are
free of IPN. However 188.1(b) (2) provides that fish
can be released without a health certification
report pursuant to permit issued by the
department in its discretion.
IPN is not considered a reportable
disease by the US government, England and most other
states including Pennsylvania.
FINANCE
Approximately 230,000 visitors log
into the Connetquot Preserve. Based on anecdotal
information almost 80 % of those visitors go to see
the hatchery. No one is going to pay to see empty
concrete ponds. Few anglers will pay to fish and not
catch.
It makes no sense to intentionally
reduce the Preserves revenue steam, especially
considering our national and state budget crises.
Plans for a new hatchery that
relies on well water would involve complex and
expensive permitting, design and construction
issues.
Replacing natural stream flow with
pumped water is an expensive environmental step
backwards. Yearly operating costs would skyrocket
with massive pumps running 24 hours a day.
ALTERNATIVE
There is no downside to allowing
Connetquot to operate as an isolated hatchery and
fishery, with no fish shipped out. Only clean eggs
would be used for breeding and all hatchery
operations would be conducted in consultation with
an expert.
Allowing the hatchery to operate on
a limited basis will allow for public debate and
considered review of the science, preservation,
financial and operational issues.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The experts required to consult on managing IPN are
expensive and it is unclear when or how the State
will be able to fund this effort.
Please send your donations to:
Friends of Connetquot
Box 472 Oakdale, NY 11769
UPDATES
UPDATE: December 24, 2008
FLY FISHING SEASON
OPENS EARLY
TAKING FISH ENCOURAGED AT CONNETQUOT RIVER STATE
PARK PRESERVE
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation will open Connetquot River
State Park Preserve one month earlier, January 3rd
to fly fishing this winter. Anglers will be allowed
to keep 10 fish per day until further notice. The
earlier season and increased fish take will help to
decrease the river trout population in an effort to
reduce Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN). IPN is
a serious fish disease that was found in fish tested
at the Connetquot hatchery. While there is no known
health threat to humans who handle or consume fish
that contain the IPN virus, it is capable of causing
extensive mortality in young trout.
Only fly fishing with fly rod, reel, and artificial
flies is permitted at designated areas. A valid New
York State fishing license is required; wading and
boot regulations apply. Anglers must stop fishing
when (10) trout are in possession and injured fish
should not be released. Boats are available for
fishing in the Main Pond weather permitting.
Thirty sites are available per session, which are as
follows:
January through March
Sessions: 8:00am - 12:00noon; 12:00noon - 4:00pm
Wednesday - Sunday April through September
Sessions: 7:00am - 11:00am; 12:00noon - 4:00pm;
4:00pm - sunset
Tuesday - Sunday October 1st through 15th
Sessions: 8:00am - 12:00noon; 12:00noon
- 4:00pm
Wednesday - Sunday
Reservations are required and must be made one week
in advance, starting on Sunday at 8:00am. Anglers
should call the park directly, at 631-581-1005, to
make a reservation or to request more specific
information about fishing opportunities. The session
fee will remain $20.00 in 2009.
For more information about New York State Parks,
visit their website at
www.nysparks.com.
UPDATE
- 12/8/2008:
State Senator Owen H. Johnson has contacted
Commissioner Grannis with a request to "postpone any
decision on the closing of the hatchery at
Connetquot State Park."
Click here to read
the full letter.
UPDATE
- 11/21/2008:
Friends board member Keith Snedecor has sent a letter to
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis.
Click here to read.
UPDATE
- 11/17/2008:
Friends President Bob Labuski has sent a letter to
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis.
Click here to read.
UPDATE
- 11/14/2008: Richard Remmer has put together a
video about the hatchery and IPN and uploaded it to
YouTube.View it here or
click here to view it at the YouTube website and
leave comments or send a link to someone.
UPDATE
- 12/8/2008:
State Senator Owen H. Johnson has contacted
Commissioner Grannis with a request to "postpone any
decision on the closing of the hatchery at
Connetquot State Park."