SELMA — East Selma Fish Pond will be open to the public, but it won’t be until the fall.

The parasite Ichthyophthirius multifilis, also known as Ich or “White Spot Disease” infected the pond in February was responsible for killing a large number of the fish.

Elton Reece, director of Selma recreation department, said the pond will be restocked later this month.

“The parasite is killed by water temperature,” Reece said. “We treated the pond for two months, but the treatment killed most of the fish, too.”

The pond had been stocked with around 2,000 pounds of fish before the parasite hit and Reece said the same amount will be put back in the pond in the last week of June. The fish will be given time to acclimate to the new pond and will be fed for two months before fishing resumes, which Reece said would happen in October.

“Most of the bream lived,” Reece said. “We think there are some catfish still in there toward the middle, but we just want to make sure there are plenty of fish.”

Reece said it was important to open the pond quickly because fishing is one thing the department does for all ages.

“Most all of our activities are geared toward youth,” Reece said. “This gives our senior citizens and adults something they can do. You don’t have to be athletic, and I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like to fish.”

Corey Bowie, City Councilman for Ward 8 where the pond is located, said the reopening is important for the ward and the city as a whole.

“It’s a very vital and pivotal outlet for recreational activities,” Bowie said. “We want it to be open, but we needed to wait until all the tests were run to make sure it’s safe for people to enjoy fishing again.”