CONSERVATIVE FISHING REGULATIONS RECOMMENDED TO PROTECT LAKE ERIE WALLEYE AND SMALLMOUTH BASSProposals would lower walleye catch limit, close smallmouth bass spawning season COLUMBUS, OH -- Conservation measures designed to provide long-term stability for Lake Erie's walleye and smallmouth bass populations are being proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife and may result in significant new fishing regulations in the 2004 season. The proposals will be finalized and presented later this summer to the Ohio Wildlife Council to be effective March 1, 2004. ODNR's Division of Wildlife plans to propose reducing the springtime limit on walleyes from four to three fish per day from March 1 - April 30. The limit for walleyes outside of the March 1- April 30 period is planned to stay at 6 fish per day. Also planned is a proposal creating a year-round walleye size limit of 15 inches. "Poor weather conditions during recent springs have resulted in inconsistent and minimal walleye reproduction in Lake Erie," said Gary Isbell, executive administrator for the Division of Wildlife's Fish Management and Research Program. "The outlook for the 2003 hatch is not good, based on the cold, stormy spring this year." Isbell said that while many anglers are reporting some of the best catches seen in recent years, the concern is for the future of the fishery since reproduction has been poor in two of the past three years. The Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission has advised member agencies to prepare for a "40%-60% reduction in total allowable catches (TAC) for 2004." "All Lake Erie agencies are examining regulation options best-suited to their area to meet this challenge," said Isbell. State fisheries biologists are also proposing closing of smallmouth fishing in May and June, when the popular sport fish are laying eggs and guarding their nests. The proposal comes in response to concern that the round goby, an invasive fish species, is adversely impacting smallmouth populations by preying on bass eggs and fry. Gobies arrived from eastern Europe in the ballast water of transoceanic ships and have multiplied rapidly during the 1990s, becoming abundant throughout Lake Erie. Research conducted by the Division of Wildlife in conjunction with The Ohio State University over the last three years has documented that gobies are having a negative impact on smallmouth reproduction, as higher populations of round gobies dramatically decrease the number of smallmouth in the nesting areas. In addition, tagging studies conducted in cooperation with the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association and Ohio Sea Grant have confirmed limited movements or small home ranges of smallmouth bass. Fish that are tagged and released are likely to be found at a later time in the same location. This raises concerns about removing smallmouth during the spawning season, and explains how serious nesting failures are to local populations. Another potential negative factor impacting smallmouth bass is the double-breasted cormorant, a bird that dives to feed on small fish including small bass. Neither gobies nor cormorants were present in Lake Erie just 10 years ago. No fishing regulation changes are proposed for yellow perch or white bass. The Division of Wildlife, based on a hearing to be scheduled this summer, consultation with anglers, and further review of the recent research information, will finalize the proposals between now and September. Ohio Wildlife Council action will likely take place in October 2003.
Source: ODNR
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