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~ ,, <br />threats because they may be in direct competition with adult fish for space <br />and food. <br />Stocking of nonnative warmwater species has been reduced in recent years, <br />and under the RIP will not occur in habitat occupied by Colorado squawfish, <br />unless it would not interfere with recovery initiatives. The reverse of <br />stocking, elimination or removal of non-natives is worth considering, but this <br />issue has not been meaningfully addressed. ~,~ t~ C~ ~~ ) ~ ~ ~e S~~v. f <br />W 4"7S ~~ 2~l~t~v~~ ey~o~ i c,~ <br />Large Colorado squawfish readily take bait or a lure, and frequently can be <br />observed and fished at the water surface. Sportfishing has been implicated in <br />the decline of this fish, but evidence is scanty. I believe that sportfishing <br />mortality (intentional or not) is a serious problem in some adult <br />conceatration areas, particularly in the Yampa River (Tyus and Rarp 1988). In <br />the Green River, we have documented about a lOX take by anglers each year of <br />the fish we collect in intensive studies. This ~eeds more evaluation, <br />dar <br />however, theAloss of very large reproducing fish, particularly females, is <br />significant. Perhaps better angler contact, and more rigorous creel programs <br />would be beneficial. <br />Research, Monitoring, and Data Management <br />Well organized and applied research programs can substantially add to the <br />knowledge necessary to support management for recovery. Monitoring is <br />required as a follow-up on research findings in further refinement of <br />34 <br />