The Trophy
Blue Catfish and Flatheads on the James River and the Chesapeake Bay’s Tributaries
are at risk of being labeled as an invasive species.
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The Trophy Blue Catfish Fishery
on the James River
needs your help!! Please
get involved in these ongoing processes. You
can email your concerns to GIT.
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In summary, the Chesapeake Bay Program Sustainable Fisheries Goal
Implementation Team (GIT) is focusing on development of a Chesapeake Bay
wide policy to manage blue catfish in all waters of the Bay and its
tidal rivers. In support of this effort, the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission has staff working on a draft resolution which
labels blue catfish as a non-native invasive species, and resolves that
efforts be made to reduce population levels.
Management
for trophy catfish fisheries is not included
in the list of policy options currently
being looked at by GIT.
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VDGIF
reports an abundance of blue
catfish in Virginia’s tidal
rivers. However the trophy size blue
catfish over 32 inches account
for less than 1% , taking
an average of 15 years to reach 30
pounds on the James River.
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Regulations
implemented by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
(VDGIF) in July 1, 2006, protects
the trophy size blue catfish by limiting possession of blue catfish over 32 inches to one fish per person per day,
which also applies to the commercial fishermen.
If blue catfish, and/or flathead catfish, are defined as invasive by either the
Chesapeake Bay Program or the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission, it will be
extremely unlikely that management for trophy fisheries for these species in
Virginia tidal rivers would continue through the VDGIF.
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If you value the Trophy Blue Catfish Fishery on the James River as the regulations
stand at the present time, which preserves the trophy blue catfish fishery, please
get involved in these ongoing processes. You
can email your concerns to GIT.
Click
here for the contact
list below.
The best course of action is an email campaign informing the GIT how the public
and recreational fishermen regard this matter. Please understand this is an urgent
matter and the list of contacts below needs to be emailed voicing your opinion,
along with an estimate of how many trips you make a year to the James including
expenses such as a guide, bait, tackle, lodging, gas, food and restaurants.
.
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As an invasive
species that would open all doors for the Trophy Blue Catfish to
be wiped out. Remember less than
1% of the Blue Catfish population is trophy size of 32" or longer. Taking
an average of 15 years to reach 30
pounds on the James River.
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James River nationally recognized as a premier blue catfish fishery. With that recognition many anglers from all over the country are visiting the area in pursuit of the catch of a lifetime. Of course the draw is the trophy size catfish. If the regulations are lifted the trophy fishery will soon be eliminated.
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Below
is a a report generated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
(VDGIF) which summarizes the status of recreational tidal blue catfish fisheries and provides summary information related to the issues circulating on the web --
Tidal River Blue Catfish Status Report for Anglers 2011
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With the spirit of catch-and-release displayed among the serious
catfishermen, the James has become a world class trophy catfish fishery.
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Article
- Roanoke Times :
Blue catfish a trophy to some; threat to others
Article
- Chesapeake Bay Journal:
Blue catfish boom threatens region's river ecosystems
Article
- Interesting - from the desk of Jim Beers a retired Refuge Manager, Special Agent, & Wildlife Biologist U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:
Invasive Species & Elections
One of the topics of interest circulating among anglers has been recent activities of the Chesapeake Bay Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team (GIT), as these activities relate to recreational blue catfish fisheries. In December of 2010, after hearing from a panel of scientists regarding blue catfish in tidal rivers, the GIT formed a Workgroup of scientists tasked with examining the science:
- What is known?
- What key information is lacking?
- And status of blue catfish
- Flathead catfish were later added to the Workgroup's task list
The Workgroup was asked to provide the GIT with a full range of management options prior to the GIT's upcoming June 2011 meeting. To give you a better indication of this ongoing process, the most recent tasking document from the GIT to the catfish Workgroup is below.
Click here for Invasive Catfish Field of Action and WorkgroupTasks
In the time since the GIT December 2010 meeting, a draft resolution on blue catfish and flathead catfish has been developed for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). An early draft of the ASMFC resolution defines blue catfish and flathead catfish as “invasive”, and states “that all practicable efforts should be made to reduce the population level and range of non-native invasive species” in the Chesapeake Bay watershed – which would, as defined by the draft resolution, include Virginia’s tidal river blue catfish populations. Obviously, this resolution has also been a source of interest to catfish anglers
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)
resolution on invasive catfish
GIT's web site:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/team_fisheries_info.aspx?menuitem=51029
ASMFC website
http://www.asmfc.org/
Public and stakeholder involvement is welcomed in these ongoing processes. As these processes move forward, the GIT and ASMFC may be identifying for stakeholders, the most appropriate mechanisms for their involvement.
Contact Bob Greenlee
to discuss these topics further, or if you
would like additional information related to Virginia's tidal river recreational fisheries.
Bob Greenlee
District Fisheries Biologist
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
3801 John Tyler Memorial Highway
Charles City, VA 23030
Phone: 804 829-6715
Fax: 804 829-6788
email: bob.greenlee@dgif.virginia.gov,
When
will a final decision be made on this
issue??
More than likely a decision will be made by GIT
in 2011.
The catfish
Workgroup's summary of management options are to be provided to the GIT for it's
June meeting. According to the GIT documentation on its web site, the GIT
Executive Committee meets once a month and the full Fisheries Goal Implementation Team will meet twice a year. In 2010 the full GIT met in June and
December.
Interested parties and stakeholders should contact the GIT to determine the
timeline for actions regarding this issue within the GIT. The same could be said
for contacting the ASMFC regarding the catfish draft
resolution.
Stakeholders and others with a strong interest should contact the GIT
to gain information regarding the upcoming June meeting, and look to attend.
Blue catfish / flathead catfish will be only one of several agenda items covered
during the two day meeting, and the GIT can provide specifics regarding the
exact time and day.
Event Calender for June 7th & 8th two day full GIT meeting that will be held in Stratford, VA
I was in touch with Adam Davis and the above
linked page will be updated with the agenda when it's finalized.
Also you have to create an account and then register to attend the meeting
GIT Meeting
info
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 Click here to create an account and then register to attend the meeting
GIT Meeting
info
June
8th
Day 2: Stratford
Hall – Council House
Agenda
Stratford Hall
483 Great House Road
Stratford, Virginia 22558
Phone:
804-493-8039
www.stratfordhall.org
9:15 – 11:45
AM Blue & Flathead Catfish (Tom O’Connell)
Objectives: Provide updates from the Blue Catfish Workgroup in order to reach consensus
on next steps in drafting a management plan/policy
• Mary Fabrizio – Scientific evaluation of Blue Catfish as Invasive
• Greg Garman – Matrix of Management Options & Implications
• Greg Garman – Control and Surveillance Proposal
• Bryan King – Public Awareness Campaign
• Howard Townsend – Blue Catfish Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) Model Runs
• Bob Beal – ASMFC Resolution
• Discussion: What are the next management actions/steps?
11:45 – 12:15 PM Blue & Flathead Catfish Public Comment Period
A webinar and conference call will also be provided.
for the June 7th
and 8th GIT meeting;
Webinar Day 1:
http://chesapeake1.adobeconnect.com/full_git-day1/
Webinar Day 2:
http://chesapeake1.adobeconnect.com/full_git-day2/
Conference Call-In: 866-917-0618
Pass Code: 1613714
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No one has as
of yet presented any scientific evidence
to back up any claims that the blue
catfish are invasive. Greenlee's
reports & documents reveals the trophy
size blue cats are less than 1% of
the catfish population with a high mortality
rate, close to 60%.
However
here is a large report (PDF format- size
4.4 MB) that
may take several minutes to open. The
below report generated by:
- Greg
C. Garman (VCU)
- Mary C. Fabrizio (VIMS),
-
Robert
J. Latour (VIMS)
- Steve McIninch (VCU)
-
Bob Greenlee (VDGIF)
- Mary Groves (MDNR)
- James Gartland (VIMS)
Status and Management of Introduced Catfishes in Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries
Click Here
GIT 02-25-11_Minutes
The Catfish Workgroup met for the first time on February 24th, 2011, Says there is not enough science to make management decisions. Need more time and money for research.
Click here for Invasive Catfish Field of Action and WorkgroupTasks
WorkgroupTasks -- Use the currently available scientific information on blue and flathead catfish to determine if they are “invasive” by definition. In the Executive Summary of the National Invasive Species Management Plan (NISMP) the term invasive species defined as “a species that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.”
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The Trophy Blue Catfish Fishery
on the James River
needs your help!!
|
If you value the Trophy Blue Catfish Fishery on
the James River as the regulations stand at the present time, which preserves
the trophy blue catfish fishery, please
get involved in these ongoing processes and email your concerns to the contact
list. The Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Goal
Implementation Team (GIT) may tag the Blue Catfish as an invasive
species and that would open all doors for the Trophy Blue Catfish to
be wiped out. Remember less than
1% of the Blue Catfish population is trophy size of 32" or longer. Taking
an average of 15 years to reach 30
pounds on the James River.
At the present time the James River is a
nationally recognized blue catfish fishery. Anglers from all over the
country have heard of the James River and its monster catfish and
catching a trophy catfish is not an unrealistic expectation by any
means. With the spirit of catch-and-release displayed among
the serious catfishermen, the James is a world class trophy catfish fishery. If the trophy
blue catfish are wiped out the local economy stands to loose a lot.
The
blue cat fishery and all tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay are at
risk...even one proposal to the GIT is to tag the blue cats as invasive
and make it mandatory to keep any blue cat caught regardless of
size...which opens all the doors for the commercial fishermen.
Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Web link:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/team_fisheries_info.aspx?menuitem=51029 The best course of action is an email campaign
informing the GIT how the public and recreational fishermen regard this
matter. Please understand this is an urgent matter and the list of
contacts below needs to be emailed voicing your opinion,
along with an estimate of how many trips you make a year to the James
including expenses such as a guide, bait, tackle, lodging, gas, food
and restaurants.
Please contact the Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Goal
Implementation Team (GIT) members voicing your opinion on protecting the Trophy Blue Catfish fishery
on the James River, and the money you've
spent in searching for trophy blue cats, only to release them to fight another
day.
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Anyone
that enjoys the tidal rivers of the
Chesapeake Bay needs to be informed of the ongoing processes which
may impact your fishery. Providing this information to you was the
primary goal of a recent meeting held
at the VDGIF Charles City office.
Links
below in PDF format is information given
during Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
meeting
on 04/03/11. Also attached a draft of the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) resolution on invasive catfish, as well as
the most recent guidance document from the Chesapeake Bay Program
Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team (GIT) regarding Blue
Catfish.
Click
here for information on the VDGIF's Meeting 04/03/11
(PDF Format)
Click
here for information on the VDGIF's Meeting 04/03/11
(HTML Format)
Click here for Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)
resolution on invasive catfish
(PDF Format)
Click her for Invasive Catfish Field of Action and WorkgroupTasks
(PDF Format)
Just released the Tidal River Blue Catfish Status Report for Anglers 2011 ... which has a lot of good information.
This is a letter that Capt. Mike Ostrander wrote regarding this serious
issue we have on the James. Forward this letter to all recreational
anglers that fish the James and any other tributary in the Chesapeake
Watershed.
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Tidal Blue Catfish Decimation Plan - In Progress
From: "Mike Ostrander" <mike@discoverthejames.com>
Date: Thu, May 5, 2011 12:55 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 5, 2011
There is a fast moving act to title blue catfish ‘invasive’ and
eliminate the large blue catfish of the James River and the Chesapeake
Bay’s tributaries. This move is
being led the National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration and state
fisheries managers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This team is
called the Chesapeake Bay Program Sustainable Fisheries Goal
Implementation Team (GIT). We need to voice our opinion, and let
them know how much we cherish this world class blue catfish fishery and
how wrong it is to call the blue catfish ‘invasive’ without proper
scientific evidence. If the blue catfish is listed as invasive, the
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will not be able protect this
trophy fishery by limiting recreational and commercial catches
(currently 1 fish over 32” per day can be kept).
Whether you are a recreational angler who enjoys the sport of trophy blue catfishing or a professional catfish guide, please send a personalized email to the people listed above.
Please let them know how important this fishery is to you through a
personalized letter. Include any links that promote the James River as
one of the best fishing destinations in America.
Forward this email to anyone you know who enjoys recreational fishing. It is imperative that we act immediately on this issue.
Before eliminating the trophy blue catfish fishery in the James River,
by labeling them ‘invasive’ the following needs to be addressed ....
-Economically speaking, by decimating the blue catfish population, Virginia will lose millions of dollars.
In 2002, 2.5 million dollars was spent by recreational anglers on the
James River blue catfish fishery in nine months. Over the past nine
years, the popularity of the James River blue catfish fishery has
exploded because of the national exposure it has received through
numerous articles in national fishing magazines and nationally viewed
fishing shows. In 2002 there were approximately five fishing guides
targeting blue catfish. Now, there are over 20 James River catfish
guides who create tourism by attracting visitors from nearly all 50
states.
- Why is there a difference between recreational and commercially
caught blue catfish when it comes to consumption advisories on the
PCB’s? For recreational blue catfish harvested in the James River,
the blue catfish has major restrictions which includes the following,
“Do not eat any blue catfish over 32” due to pcb’s, and “Only eat two
meals a month for blue catfish under 32”. The recreational consumption
advisory for pcb’s is set at the state level. For commercially caught
blue catfish, the parts per million for pcb’s is set dramatically
higher, far out of the state range, and is set at the federal level.
There is something very wrong with this.
-The population/biomass of blue catfish over 32”, which are the
trophy fish which draw the tourism and drives our world class blue
catfish fishery, is less than 1% of the biomass. Currently the
commercial fishermen have the right to take 99% of the blue catfish
biomass, with no restrictions on numbers of fish less than 32”.
-Click links (SEE: GIT Information & ASMFC Resolution – draft form) you will see this group clearly trying to label the blue catfish as invasive. They contradict themselves by clearly stating the blue catfish as invasive yet they also state they need to scientifically prove the blue catfish can be called invasive. This is self labeling without proper scientific evidence.
-If the blue catfish is called ‘invasive’ why isn’t the channel
catfish, largemouth bass or smallmouth bass called invasive, as they are
also non-native, piscivores introduced into the James River.
Thank you,
Concerned Recreational Anglers of the James River and other Chesapeake Bay Tributaries
Click
here for information on the VDGIF's Meeting 04/03/11
(PDF Format)
Click
here for information on the VDGIF's Meeting 04/03/11
(HTML Format)
Click here for Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)
resolution on invasive catfish
(PDF Format)
Click her for Invasive Catfish Field of Action and WorkgroupTasks
(PDF Format
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