Virus suspected in carp deaths

MONCKS CORNER — Thousands of carp carcasses are floating on the Santee Cooper lakes in the second large kill in five years. The likely culprit is the same as before — koi herpes.

The virus killed some 50,000 common carp, about half the lakes' population, in 2004.

"Same time of year. Same water temperatures. We suspect the same disease," said Scott Lamprecht, a biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. But he won't be able to confirm that until a dying carp can be caught and sent for testing. The virus is too fragile to be found in fish that are dead for any length of time.

Koi herpes is a "cultured disease," known mostly as a killer of ornamental pond koi, or carp. It's been compared to an invasive species because it's introduced to new areas by relocating animals or man. The 2004 outbreak was the first time the disease had been discovered in the Southeast.

The common carp is not the native grass carp also found in the lakes. It is an invasive species, a European carp introduced in the 1800s.

The loss of carp is no big concern; the species is considered a "trash fish" that competes with game fish. But there's concern that the disease might affect the native carp or other fish. Lamprecht said biologists haven't found that problem so far.

The kill is one more disruption in the two relatively shallow Santee Cooper lakes that have been haunted by die-offs and the depletion of popular catches, such as the striped bass.

The bass population seemed to disappear in the early 2000s, apparently from a number of causes, despite ongoing stocking by the Natural Resources Department.

The loss touched off finger-pointing among anglers over what was to blame and what to do about it. The state Legislature last year passed tighter fishing restrictions on the species. Meanwhile, recent catches suggest the striper may be coming back.

"It disturbs me to see any fish die in the Santee Cooper lake system, whether carp or any other species," wrote Ed Riley, of the Santee Cooper Striped Bass Coalition, in an e-mail. "I am very concerned that it may cause adverse effects relating to the striped bass re-stocking programs. I feel that Natural Resources' biologists are aware of the situation. I just hope they have the funding to correct this ongoing problem before it is too late."

The coalition is a group of anglers formed to advocate for management changes in the wake of the striper depletion.

Most of the carp now found dead are yearlings that were part of the largest spawn Lamprecht said he has seen in his career. The massive spawn followed a drought that drew down lake levels to near record lows.

Reach Bo Petersen at 937-5744 or bpetersen@postandcourier.com.