Managing for Paddlefish Populations

by Ethan Bauer

The American Paddlefish is in danger of becoming extinct. With populations on the decline, it’s important that more management practices are put into place. The American paddlefish is found all along the Mississippi river and its tributaries. It’s commonly over fished because of a high demand for its meat and eggs. Many states have reduced the bag limit or completely banned paddlefish fishing. That’s great and all but I don’t get why more regulation hasn’t been put into place. Over fishing isn’t the only problem. The dams we create stop the paddlefish from reaching their spawning grounds. We know how to make fish ladders, why aren’t we using them to help the paddlefish get past the dam? Some people speculate that the paddlefish’s sensitive electro receptors don’t like the rebar that’s inside the fish ladder. If that’s the case, we either have to stop building dams on the Mississippi, or start modifying/building paddlefish friendly ones.

The paddlefish’s food supply is also in danger. Paddlefish primarily eat zooplankton, and so does the zebra mussel, an invasive species. Fishermen are mainly to blame for this. Since the paddlefish is a highly prized fish to catch, people from all over the United States come to fish for them. People need to be aware of and practice proper boat hygiene. Fishermen need to take the time to wash their boats regularly if they plan on visiting new bodies of water. I’ve noticed there are pressure washers and boat cleaning equipment where we fish on the Wisconsin River, but I rarely see it being put to use. It only takes a few minutes to wash your boat and prevent the spread of invasive species.

The fisherman can do a lot to prevent this threatened species from becoming extinct. Catch and release is another way anglers can help the paddlefish populations, or just not fish for them at all. Since the paddlefish mainly eat zooplankton, they won’t be tempted to go after that twister tail or lure. The most common way people catch paddlefish is snagging. Anglers use a few ounces of lead sinkers in combination with a treble hook to catch them. Not only do you snag paddlefish, but other game fish as well. If you want your sons and daughters to enjoy the fishing experiences you have been so lucky to enjoy, stop killing the fish.

In conclusion, anglers can do a lot to prevent the extinction of the paddlefish. From practicing boat hygiene to being smart about how you fish can all help increase the populations of these gentle giants. I understand that species go extinct from natural causes, but when humans are killing off species after species, where does it end? We should respect the paddlefish and value the species. If we continue to build dams and not care about its populations and it does go extinct, what does that say about us? I believe that if we don’t have respect for other species, do we really have respect for ourselves? If humans keep killing off species, what will we have for future generations?

http://suite101.com/article/saving-the-american-paddlefish-a63115 http://tlpoague.hubpages.com/hub/Have-You-Tried-Paddlefishing-Day-Twenty-five-of-My-30-Hubs-in-30-Day-Challenge