Appendix_A_Fishing_Pathogen_Disinfectants.pdf

Appendix A. Fish Pathogen Disinfectants

Procedures

• The outside and inside of the boat, trailer, live wells, bilges, and pumps should be sprayed with the disinfection solution and left wet for the appropriate contact time. The inside of live wells, bilges and pumps should be made to contact the solution for the appropriate contact time as well.

Run pumps so they take in some of the disinfection solution and make sure that the solution comes in contact with all parts of the pump and hose. The boat, trailer, bilges, live well, and pumps should be rinsed with clean water or water from the next water body after the appropriate contact time.

• For outboard motors, rig up a short (6 foot) piece of garden hose to lower unit muffs. A pail of the disinfectant can be set in the back of the boat and gravity fed to the lower unit to run the disinfectant through the motor. Allow solution to remain in motor for the appropriate contact time. The hose will need to be primed to start the gravity flow because the lower unit does not create enough suction to prime the hose. A non-corrosive (Virkon – S or Peroxigard/Accel) should be used to protect the impeller.

Safety is paramount when using disinfectants. Be sure to follow safety precautions on the product label and wear appropriate safety equipment such as eye protection, gloves, and a dust mask or respirator and chemical suits as required. When mixing any of these chemicals, wear eye protection, gloves, and a dust mask if it is a powder.

Chemical Concentration Contact Time

Safety precautions

Chlorine 200 ppm 1000 ppm

10 min 30 sec to 1 min.

Wear eye protection, rain gear, gloves if spraying. Stay upwind of the spray. Will break down in sunlight and when in contact with organic material. Is corrosive to metal and rubber. Is toxic to fish at these concentrations so rinse well after disinfection or neutralize with sodium thiosulfate*.

Virkon Aquatic

1:100 10,000 ppm

1:200 5,000 ppm

On contact to 1 min

10 minutes

This is a new disinfectant in the peroxygen (hydrogen peroxide) family. It is a powder. It is 99.9% biodegradable and breaks down to water and oxygen. It is not corrosive at the working dilution.

Wear eye protection, rain gear and gloves if spraying. Stay upwind of spray.

3.5% Free Iodine

1:20,000 or 50 ppm

30 sec. to 1 min.

Wear eye protection and rubber gloves when handling the concentrate. Wash with soap and water if concentrate gets onto skin. If concentrate gets into eyes, flush with plenty of water and call a physician. This stable, non-flammable liquid is 100% soluble in water and requires no special respiratory protection other than normal ventilation. Very safe product to use.

Quaternary Ammonia

1:833 or 1200 ppm

30 sec. to 1 min.

Wear eye protection and rubber gloves when handling the concentrate. Wash with soap and water if concentrate gets onto skin. If concentrate gets into eyes, flush with plenty of water and call a physician. This is a stable compound readily soluble in water. Vapors of ethanol can be flammable. Product residue can ignite explosively. Prior to use, eliminate ignition sources.

Following use, rinse with water. Wear a respirator when normal ventilation is unsatisfactory.

* For neutralizing chlorine or iodine, spray sodium thiosulfate in an 800-ppm solution (3 grams per gallon of water) on all surfaces after the disinfection period is over. Rinse with water from the next lake to remove any remaining sodium thiosulfate.

** It is wise to have all four of these disinfectants available for use and to use them rotationally so as to minimize the chances of producing resistant bacteria, viruses and parasites.