Big Idea

• The Arizona Game and Fish Department has temporarily suspended fish stockings from Page Springs
• There has been a bacterial outbreak at the Hatchery
• It is a naturally occurring bacterium similar to strep, but not detected in Arizona until now
• It is possible that some locations stocked in the last couple of months were carrying the bacterium, but not showing symptoms
• Read more...

Infected fish possibly may have been stocked at three local lakes

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has temporarily suspended all fish stockings from Page Springs Hatchery due to detection of a bacterial outbreak in trout at the facility. 

Hatchery staff began observing fish mortalities in early June with symptoms that were different from those in other commonly observed fish diseases. AZGFD’s Fish Health Lab cultured samples and sent them to the University of Arizona (UA) for identification. 

On June 24, UA identified the pathogen as Lactococcus garvieae, a naturally occurring bacterium similar to streptococcus that has been reported in freshwater and saltwater aquaculture facilities as well as cattle and poultry farms around the world but had not been detected in Arizona until now. The bacterium was found in three hatcheries in California in 2020. The department is working to identify the potential source of the bacterium. 

Fish that are infected with L. garvieae can show symptoms including bulging eyes, lethargic or erratic swimming and increased mortality, or be asymptomatic and show no signs of infection depending on several factors, including water temperature and stress.

While the department does not stock diseased fish, it is possible some locations were stocked in May or June with fish from Page Springs carrying the bacterium but not showing clinical signs or symptoms of the disease. These include: 

Ashurst Lake

Big Lake

Bunch Reservoir

C.C. Cragin (Blue Ridge) Reservoir

Cataract Lake

City Reservoir

Dogtown Reservoir

FAIN LAKE

Frances Short Pond

GOLDWATER LAKE (UPPER)

Kaibab Lake

Kinnikinick Lake

Knoll Lake

LYNX LAKE

Mingus Lake

Mormon Lodge Pond

Nelson Reservoir

Oak Creek

River Reservoir

Rose Canyon Lake

Santa Fe Reservoir

Tunnel Reservoir

West Clear Creek

Wet Beaver Creek

Willow Springs Lake

Woods Canyon Creek

Woods Canyon Lake

Fish-to-human transmission of this bacterium is rare and extremely unlikely. As always, anglers should follow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations on cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145 F. When a food thermometer is not available or appropriate, cook fish until it's opaque (milky white) and flakes with a fork.

Currently, AZGFD’s fishery managers are working to implement a number of strategies that will help the facility get the disease under control. Planned stockings from Page Springs Hatchery will be replaced with fish from the Canyon Creek and Tonto Creek hatcheries for July. 

“The current status of the department’s response to this outbreak is fluid and depends on the results of samples taken this week as well as how fish respond to treatment we are proposing to prescribe,” said Aquatic Wildlife Branch Chief Julie Carter.

The Page Springs Hatchery is located near Cornville, about a two-hour drive north of Phoenix.