06-27-2013, 09:17 PM
I am not trying to start flaming wars here. [angelic] Everyone please stay calm. There is a time and place for both C&R and harvest. [cool]
This is an article from the Upper Snake River Region Newsletter. I received it by email, but I imagine that it is probably on the F&G site too. I thought it was a good article.
The Role of Angler Harvest in Fisheries Management
By Dan Garren
Many anglers routinely practice “catch and release” when fishing, with the thought that it’s better to release a fish to be caught again as opposed to harvesting the fish. The intention of well-meaning anglers is clear – they want to improve the fisheries in the waters they frequent. But is catch and release the best way to achieve this objective? The answer is not as clear as anglers intentions are, and involves a couple considerations.
It’s easy to examine a few of the more common fishery regulations to help an angler determine the fate of the fish they catch. In highly productive water and where fish have good natural reproduction, fish populations can generally replace themselves quickly when harvest occurs. In these instances, liberal fishing regulations are applied, and may include no limits on the number of fish you can harvest, or a six fish limit. In less productive waters or where fish populations are not as robust, a more restrictive regulation may be used; such as a two fish limit. In waters where fish populations are struggling, catch and release regulations may be applied. These regulations are developed after biologists look closely at each fishery to determine the amount of harvest the population can withstand and still provide a desirable fishery.
When deciding if you want to harvest a fish, keep in mind that any river or lake can only support a certain amount of fish, much the way an aquarium can only sustain a certain amount of fish. For instance, a small lake may be able to support and feed 1,000 pounds of trout over the entire year. This may mean there are 4,000 trout that weigh a quarter pound each, or 500 trout that weigh two pounds each. When fish densities get so high that food resources are spread across a large number of fish, growth of the individual fish slows to the point where they do not reach the large size many anglers find desirable. In these instances, the primary tool available to a fisheries biologist is angler harvest. We rely on anglers to remove the surplus of fish, which then improves the growth rates on the remaining fish.
With the increase in anglers practicing catch and release, it’s more difficult to balance fish populations. The best way to determine if you are doing the right thing for the fishery, by practicing catch and release, is to look at the fishing rules for the water you are on. If the limit is liberal, it’s probably OK or even desirable for you to take some fish home to eat. If regulations are more restrictive, consider releasing your healthy fish. Anglers can better improve their local waters by shifting away from catch and release for all fish and adopt a selective harvest approach. When anglers actively engage in managing their waters, biologists retain a valuable tool for balancing fish populations and meeting angler expectations.
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This is an article from the Upper Snake River Region Newsletter. I received it by email, but I imagine that it is probably on the F&G site too. I thought it was a good article.
The Role of Angler Harvest in Fisheries Management
By Dan Garren
Many anglers routinely practice “catch and release” when fishing, with the thought that it’s better to release a fish to be caught again as opposed to harvesting the fish. The intention of well-meaning anglers is clear – they want to improve the fisheries in the waters they frequent. But is catch and release the best way to achieve this objective? The answer is not as clear as anglers intentions are, and involves a couple considerations.
It’s easy to examine a few of the more common fishery regulations to help an angler determine the fate of the fish they catch. In highly productive water and where fish have good natural reproduction, fish populations can generally replace themselves quickly when harvest occurs. In these instances, liberal fishing regulations are applied, and may include no limits on the number of fish you can harvest, or a six fish limit. In less productive waters or where fish populations are not as robust, a more restrictive regulation may be used; such as a two fish limit. In waters where fish populations are struggling, catch and release regulations may be applied. These regulations are developed after biologists look closely at each fishery to determine the amount of harvest the population can withstand and still provide a desirable fishery.
When deciding if you want to harvest a fish, keep in mind that any river or lake can only support a certain amount of fish, much the way an aquarium can only sustain a certain amount of fish. For instance, a small lake may be able to support and feed 1,000 pounds of trout over the entire year. This may mean there are 4,000 trout that weigh a quarter pound each, or 500 trout that weigh two pounds each. When fish densities get so high that food resources are spread across a large number of fish, growth of the individual fish slows to the point where they do not reach the large size many anglers find desirable. In these instances, the primary tool available to a fisheries biologist is angler harvest. We rely on anglers to remove the surplus of fish, which then improves the growth rates on the remaining fish.
With the increase in anglers practicing catch and release, it’s more difficult to balance fish populations. The best way to determine if you are doing the right thing for the fishery, by practicing catch and release, is to look at the fishing rules for the water you are on. If the limit is liberal, it’s probably OK or even desirable for you to take some fish home to eat. If regulations are more restrictive, consider releasing your healthy fish. Anglers can better improve their local waters by shifting away from catch and release for all fish and adopt a selective harvest approach. When anglers actively engage in managing their waters, biologists retain a valuable tool for balancing fish populations and meeting angler expectations.
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