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re: Pilchards

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Subject: re: Pilchards
From: "Timothy Nye Dolby" <>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 13:25:24 +1000
Some of you may be aware of the thousands of pilchards that 
have been killed by a herpes-like virus along the Victorian 
coast from Anglesea to Portland and beyond. 

An article in The Age (19/8/98 - p6) states: 

"The Fisheries Victoria director, Mr Richard McLouglin, 
said people should not touch the fish or feed them to pets 
because of the risk of secondary bacterial infections....."

"While the cause of the outbreak is unknown, it is believed 
the disease could be spread by sea birds eating infected 
fish". 

The question needs to be asked, what effect - if any - will 
this have on the populations of sea birds along this coast 
line? 

There seems to be two main areas of concern: 1. primary 
infection on sea birds through the consumption of fish; and 
2, secondary infections through proximity to the dead fish 
- an example of potential impact might be on the population 
of Hooded Plovers.

Although impact may be minor - has research been 
conducted the effect of this type of phenomenon? 

Tim Dolby 



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