Until we read a tweet from Capitol Hill blogger Justin Carder yesterday, we had no idea what a “triploid” is. Apparently, it is some kind of rainbow trout, a voracious eaters and grows to 1 – 1.5 lbs.
We also had no idea what the WDFW was. Apparently, it is the the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
We also had no idea that the WDFW was stocking Green Lake with triploids.
They are. 638 of them.
Now go get your rod and reel!
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FYI: They’re probably fine to eat, but Green Lake is contaminated with PCBs, and the EPA has issued a fish advisory for consumption of Green Lake’s carp: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/fish/consumpadvice.htm#Puget_Sound
Click the link and scroll down to King County; I think Green Lake’s the first item on the list. The advisory is just for carp, but I’m not convinced the trout don’t eat what the carp eat. Anyway, probably nothing that’ll kill you if you don’t eat a lot of it, but just be aware. Enjoy the sun!
Erica
Triploid refers to the fact that they have 3 sets of chromosomes. Most animals have (or otherwise end up) with 2 sets of chromosomes–one from each parent. They’re diploid.
Anomalies and exceptions abound of course.
By manipulating fertilized trout eggs you can dramatically increase the number of triplod trout you get. It would seem that one advantage of stocking the lake with triploid trout is they’re sterile so things won’t go horribly wrong invasive species-wise.
And don’t forget to get a fishing license.
Green Lake Community Center offered a nice kids’ fishing class last weekend. For $5 my 5 year old son got a rod and reel, a t-shirt, 30 min of instruction/guidance, and one 1 and a 1/2 lb rainbow trout!