7025 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

49 corresponded to our perception from the literature review that a large number of references suggested the impact role of introduced fishes, but a much smaller number of references provide data to document a negative interaction. Consensus opinion indicated at least five of the top six species listed in Table 3 were considered widespread in distribution. Their abundance and impact to native fishes was considered either constant or inversely affected by flow regime. One species (northern pike) was judged increasing in abundance and impact and the remaining species locally common with areas of increased abundance and impact Most respondents recognized some sport fishery value attached to the introduced game fish. Only reservoir fisheries for centrarchids, percids, and percichthyids, tailwater salmonid fisheries, and the Yampa River northern pike fishery were judged to be of significant value. Channel catfish was considered to support the most widespread riverine fishery, but only in a few places was it judged to be more than moderate in importance. Riverine fisheries for all the other introduced game fish were generally considered to be small or inconsequential. Only one third of the re~pondents considered angling mortality from incidental catch to be a problem for endangered fishes and this opinion is shared mostly by federal agency personnel. However, gamefish species that are long-lived and late maturing similar to Colorado squawfish are considered susceptible to over-exploitation from angling mortality. The endangered status of Colorado squawfish warrants close attention by management agencies to identify situations of unusual and harmful angling mortality. Responses to questions 9, 10, and 11 provided no strong indication of feasible field techniques or management approaches to cope with negative impacts from introduced fishes. Due to inherent conflicts in the goals of sportfish and native fish management, agencies need to conduct objective assessments of goals, problems, and potential solutions related to both types of fish management The elimination, reduction, or strict regulation of stocking of nonnative fish species was the management option cited by almost half the respondents as plausible, followed by habitat management and flow manipulation as options to control nonnative fish populations. Selective application of sport fishery regulations and specifically targeting anglers in an information and education program were the next most cited options. Responses to questions 12, 14, and 15 indicated that balancing sportfishing recreation demands with conservation of . native fish fauna is not a trouble-free and accepted norm within aquatic wildlife management. It might be a fair assessment that native fish management and concerns are largely driven by mandates of the Endangered Species Act and species recovery programs. As a result, communication links are evolving within agencies between sportfish and nongame sections. Agency policies regarding review of the introduction of nonnative fishes are also being developed and refined Many of the respondents involved in management from both sides expressed a general comfort with their internal communication process. Those outside the management agencies appeared less sure of the effectiveness of the review process relative to nongame concerns. It was clear sportfishery managers were not convinced problems created by introduced fishes have been