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}Y.'-\~( \J \ \e,,\ -\- \\)11clb~:)~~l Wiley, R.W. and R.S. Wydoski. 1993. Management of undesirable species of fish. Pages 335-354 (Chapter 14) in C.C. Kohler and W.A. Hubert, Editors. Inland fisheries management in North America. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. ~ lo4-b ',i Chapter 14 Management of Undesirable Fish Species ROBERT W. WILEY AND RICHARD S. WYDOSKI 14.1 HISTORY During the second half of the 19th Century many species of fish were transplanted throughout the United States to mitigate for losses of fish stocks associated with industrial growth. However, the success of such introductions (i.e., good growth and survival) required the control of other fish that were predators or competitors. as well as providing adequate sources of food. Occa- sionally. introduced predator or forage fish were more deleterious than beneficial (see Chapter 12). Although unsuccessful, the earliest attempted control of fish in the United States was the application of copper sulfate in a Vermont lake (Titcomb 1914). By the 1930s, fisheries management techniques included various strategies for the manipulation (i.e., control) of fish populations to improve sport fishing. Netting, seining, trapping, and chemical control described by Hubbs and Esch- meyer (1938) are still in use today. Since the 1930s, more emphasis on the control of undesirable fishes has appeared in the literature. Clearly. as the demand for desirable sport or commercial fishes increased, the perceived need to control undesirable fishes has also increased. 14.2 WHAT IS AN UNDESIRABLE FISH SPECIES? To develop an understanding of current strategies for the management of undesirable fishes, a questionnaire was mailed to all state conservation agencies and Canadian provinces in 1988. The agencies that responded (90%) provided a broad range of perceptions of undesirable fish species. Their responses can be concisely summarized by stating that an undesirable species of fish is virtually any species that does not meet human needs. There is no specific rating system to aid in determining whether or not a fish species is undesirable; professional judgement must be used to make the final decision. When a fish species has been determined to be a pest, a control program should be designed based on an understanding of the biology and habitat of the species, a consideration of all effective methods of control, and an understanding of the level of control that is needed and possible (Binning et al. 1985). Undesirable fishes are not considered beneficial to humans-analogous to 335 .'