This comes from the Superior Daily Telegram.
I found it interesting the story does not go into great detail but has some information about keeping the virus that Garbon brought up. This issue interest me and it should interest everyone that has a connection to the Great Lakes. This has huge inpact on our lakes and our shipping industry. What can be done. We need to learn as much as we can about this issue and try to solve it. Here is the link that Garbon gave us, http://duluthpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/04/novirhabdovirus-latest-on-invasive.html.
Is this a possible solution or at least will it help? Any thoughts on this issue?
Great Lakes shippers take steps to halt deadly fish virus spread
The Daily TelegramPublished Tuesday, April 08, 2008
DETROIT (AP) — Great Lakes shippers say they’re taking steps to keep a deadly fish virus from spreading into Lake Superior through ballast water.
The Lake Carriers’ Association said Monday the measures will reduce the threat of viral hemorrhagic septicemia entering the lake or spreading there. The virus has been found in the other Great Lakes and in some inland lakes.
The group says freighters will try to take on ballast water in deep water away from shore and will re-circulate ballast water in their tanks to chop up any fish it may contain.
Wisconsin state fisheries official Mike Staggs says the measures could help but says ballast water still could contribute to the spread of disease and exotic species.
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It is hard to control the spread through ballast water exchange programs on the Great Lakes.
Ocean vessels perform ballast water exchange in the middle of the ocean. That has been very effective. Many of these invasive species come from brackish water environments. Filling a ballast tank up with pure salt water will kill these organisms. I don't see what a fresh water exchange will do. Obviously these organisms already live in fresh water.
Another problem is the Great Lakes are to small. Ships are in port multiple times a week. Maybe even two to three times a day. These ships operate in shallow water where mud (and organisms) gets sucked into the ballast tanks. They deballast in shallow water and repeat. Exchanging ballast water mid-lake only moves the organisms to the middle of the lake. I don't see what effect this will have.
Treatment systems are too expensive or too slow, or otherwise unrealistic. I believe the University of Michigan is experimenting with the concept of NBOB ships (No Ballast On Board). These vessels have special tubes that run the length of the vessel. You can open and close the ends of these tubes. When you move you can open the tubes and water will run through the ship acting as ballast but will not remain in the ship so organisms will pass right through with the water. This is a neat idea but you would have to build a brand new ship. This concept would be hard to add to an existing ship. Change is going to take a long time.
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