ML072060621

Ny Seagrant - Unknown Parasite Is Hard on Clams

ML072060621
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	04/01/2004
From:	State of NY, Dept of Environmental Conservation
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Davis J NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-3835
Shared Package
ML072060321	List: ML072060325 ML072060330 ML072060334 ML072060337 ML072060339 ML072060342 ML072060344 ML072060345 ML072060373 ML072060377 ML072060382 ML072060384 ML072060391 ML072060397 ML072060400 ML072060403 ML072060405 ML072060406 ML072060409 ML072060414 ML072060439 ML072060441 ML072060543 ML072060545 ML072060550 ML072060555 ML072060558 ML072060561 ML072060564 ML072060570 ML072060573 ML072060592 ML072060594 ML072060596 ML072060598 ML072060601 ML072060603 ML072060606 ML072060609 ML072060613 ML072060616 ML072060618 ML072060621
References
Download: ML072060621 (1)

Text

Ulknovvu Parasite AHardon Clams The clan idJustry has slffered 'he ill-effects of brown tide, a phenomenon a hohu le to a large :oojulation of a.tiny phytoplankton. However, a new disease that is caused by an unidentified single-celled microscopic parasite has been threatening the fishery. This disease, Quahog Parasite Unknown or "QPX disease," is caused by a parasite that infests northern hard clams purge themselves of pollutants and toxi-(Mercenariarnercenaria) only. Photo courtesy of cants before they are sold on the market to Antoinette Clemetson the general public.

The disease does not pose any risk to human health but it is causirn serious harm It isn't known with certainty whether or not to the clam industry. The first reports of: a New York's hard clams were infected with QPX-like organism were in dead and dying QPX prior to 2002. Large numbers of dead clams in New Brunswick, Canada in 1959 and dying clams were reported in Raritan but it wasn't until the 1990s that QPX Bay off the coast of Staten Island in 2002, disease began to be associated with clam resulting in a loss of between $4-$5 million die-offs in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, in the dockside value ol the clam resource.

Gross signs of the disease vary in the QP'X. organi sm was subsequently identified areas investigated-to date but clams in these clams and this diagnosis resulted typically have an intense inflammatory in the suspension of the Raritan Bay response to the parasite.

Shellfish Transplant Program for 2003, An unacceptable high level of QPX was found Clamming is almost second nature to native and the disease is most prevalent in the Long Islanders and this unique fishery is center of the most productive part of the mronitoired closely to safeguard fpublic fishing ground.

health, Commercial clamrners need a license to fish in NY waters, and areas that

• Research into QPX is continuing and Drs.

fall below a certain waterquality standard Bassem Allamn aind Alistair Dove. Stony are off-limits to everyone. One of the Brook University Marine Disease Pathology largest programs being administered by & Research Consiortiumi Laboratory hope tO NYS Department of Environmental Conser-research the orqanisrr's genetic rrake Up vation is the Raritan Bay Shellfish Trans-and determine if clams from different plant Program,whiich works together with popilatii*rs have higher disease tolerance certified clarnmers to harvest shellfish from to the QPX organism, This research will the polluted waters in Raritan Bay. Clams help to develop new tools to monitor QPX in are transported to designated areas in New York and prevent the spread of.the Photo (left) courtesy of Peconic Bay and held for three weeks to New York State Department of disease, Environmental Conservation For additional information contact 631,727,3910 to request the brochure QPX Disease in Hard Clams - Quahog Parasite Unknown,

- Antoinette Clemetson Fisheries Specialist