AquaKids Focus on Fish Health

During a hot week in June, the Aqua Kids television show (www.aquakids.tv/home.htm) cast took a deep dive into the world of fish health in the Great Lakes region. The award winning cast and crew visited and filmed at various sites in and around Chicago and Milwaukee. The United States Department of Agriculture's Focus On Fish Health campaign (www.FocusOnFishHealth.org) brought together several agencies and groups to share the message about keeping fish healthy. Partnering in this effort were three government agencies and the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The federal agencies included USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the U.S. Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). State government and university representatives also participated in the tapings.

The Aqua Kids, all energetic young people with environmental science backgrounds, were given hands-on experience in several areas: preventing the spread of fish diseases, preventing the spread of invasive species and learning about sustainable aquaculture. There was a lot to learn and both the Aqua Kids and the representatives participating in the shows benefited greatly from the experience.

Dr. Janet Whaley, Aquaculture Program Manager for APHIS, traveled to Chicago to discuss the proper use and disposal of bait. Her interview included advice on buying bait from reliable sources to ensure that it is free of disease, such as viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS)—a tongue twister at first for the kids. Dr. Whaley and the Aqua Kids visited the Park Bait Company, a historic bait shop on Lake Michigan's Montrose Harbor. They spoke to owner Stacey Green about buying bait certified free of VHS, posted a large sign outside the shop advising anglers how to keep fish healthy through safe baiting practices, and were given bait for fishing. An avid angler herself, Whaley showed the kids how to bait a hook and cast their rods and then joined them fishing in Montrose Harbor.

Called Dr. Janet by the Aqua Kids and crew, she had a great time in Chicago. "These shows gave the teens an introduction to the Great Lakes and how native species are threatened by non-native plants, diseases and animals and taught them that we all—even young people—can do our part to prevent the spread and introduction of these harmful invasives," she said.

Whaley praised the cooperation of the participating agencies, noting, "The six shows that were filmed during the week, though widely different in their focus, not only gave the Aqua Kids hands on experience that they had never had before, but taught them how fragile the Great Lakes and surrounding bodies of water are and the need to protect them as best we can."

Kicking off their week in Chicago at the world famous John G. Shedd Aquarium the Aqua Kids got a look at the Great Lakes Invasive Species exhibit. They learned how fish like Asian carp got to the Great Lakes and how these unwanted invaders can clog up the Lake's ecosystems, doing extreme damage to the environment. With Shedd veterinarian Dr. Caryn Poll, Aquarist Kurt Hettiger and Pathology expert Shelley Halach, the Aqua Kids examined and processed water samples, conducted anesthesia and diagnostic sampling on a fish including ultrasound, and mixed food to feed the aquarium fish.

The following day, they got a close up look at efforts to control Asian carp on the Illinois River near Utica, Illinois, with Sam Finney and Rob Simmonds of the Cartersville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. The FWS reps took the Aqua Kids out on the river to show them how they collect fish by electro-shocking and netting to manage the spread of Asian carp. The kids pulled in the seines and captured the fish in handheld nets. Barriers erected downstream prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.

At Diversey Harbor on Lake Michigan, the Aqua Kids became immersed in the symptoms, sighting and science of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). VHS is a destructive fish disease that can cause large fish die-offs in the Great Lakes. Fish biologist Paul Hitchens and staff from the University of Southern Illinois, which has a cooperative agreement with APHIS, took the Aqua Kids out in the harbor where they netted and helped tag the fish. As they took their boat from the water, the youngsters removed plants and cleaned the boat, trailer, boots and gear to prevent the spread of disease. "These are simple steps that everyone should take each time they move their boats and equipment from one water body to another," instructed Dr. Teresa Dudis, an APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer.

The Aqua Kids got a look at efforts to preserve and restore endangered species at the Streamside Lake Sturgeon Rearing Facility near Milwaukee, WI. That same day they visited Thiensville Dam and waded into the surrounding waters to observe ongoing habitat restoration. They next visited the Rushing Waters Trout Fisheries in Wisconsin to learn more about sustainable aquaculture from experts Dr. Michael Rubino, Director of the NOAA Aquaculture Program, and Rushing Waters foreman Drew Helwig. They ended that day and their visit to the Midwest at Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop in downtown Chicago, where under the guidance of Dirk's wife Terry, they made trout burgers from the very trout they had caught earlier at Rushing Waters. Dirk's is part of Shedd Aquarium's Right Bite program. Kassia Perpich, who heads the program, was on hand to advise both the Aqua Kids and their television audience to eat fish at least twice a week.

Dr. Whaley, USDA APHIS and the Focus On Fish Health team thank the Aqua Kids, federal, state and local agencies, the University of Southern Illinois, Rushing Waters Trout Fisheries, Shedd Aquarium, Dirk's Seafood and City of Chicago for all their help in making the programming for these shows possible. Stay tuned for details on when the Chicago programs will air.

Having created a strong partnership with the show, USDA APHIS is planning additional programming in other locations with Aqua Kids.