Concerns over Fish Virus in Oakland Co.

It's boating season, but there's a burden on boaters to help protect the fish. A virus has become a real threat to inland lakes.

The fear is over a fish virus preying on small species or panfish in Michigan's inland lakes.

"I'm concerned about VHS, viral hemorrhagic septicemia. That's a big, long word for a fish virus that has infected four of our five Great Lakes. Only Lake Superior does not have this virus," said Oakland County Commissioner Shelley G. Taub.

The virus is deadly and capable of eradicating entire fish populations in lakes.

"Basically looks like internal hemorrhaging on a fish. So, it's kind of spooky. I guess... they're comparing it to like a flesh eating disease," said Commodore Mark Schwarz of the Oakland County Boat Club.

"We have over a thousand lakes and waterways in Oakland County. What a shame if our bass fishermen, if our trout fishermen, all the folks who love fishing can't fish anymore because once this virus is in a lake, that it," Taub said.

Anyone taking a boat from lake to lake should take precautions.

"We certainly don't want it to show up in all of our inland lakes. So, basically what they're asking people to do is if you are trailing your boat in and out of these lakes, to basically bleach down the hauls, make sure you're not pouring in bilge water from one lake to the next," Schwarz said.

Cleaning boats thoroughly is imperative in checking the spread of the virus.

"There are several environmentally safe products other than bleach that you can use, as well. But bleach, obviously, is the one thing that's the easiest to find and recommended," said Schwarz.

"Just clean your boats, please, and let's keep that fish virus out of Oakland County. Not only will it help the fishermen, but our quality of life and even our property values," said Taub.