U.S. Will Destroy Lake Trout For Fear Of Invasive Algae

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(Host) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is destroying more than 400,000 lake trout at a Vermont fish hatchery because of fears that stocking them in the Great Lakes could spread an invasive algae.

The 4-inch fish are at the federal hatchery in Bethel, which was contaminated by water from the White River during flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.

The algae, known formally as didymo, can overwhelm cold water lakes and streams.

The lake trout had been raised for stocking in Lakes Erie and Ontario.

Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Terri Edwards says officials felt the risk of spreading didymo was too great to stock the fish.

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