05/14/2001

Fact Finding Fishing - Scientists Seeking Help from Coosa River Catfish Anglers

AUBURN, Ala. —If you're a catfish angler willing to keep track of your fishing accomplishments, you can help science and perhaps get a few rewards in the process by assisting in a new study underway on the Coosa River.

Biologists with the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (Coop Unit) at Auburn University are recruiting Coosa River catfish anglers to help with a catfish population study. The study is funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (ADWFF). Results of the study will increase basic knowledge of these popular fish and also help state officials better protect them as a recreational and commercial resource.

According to Elise Irwin, assistant leader of the Coop Unit and assistant professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures at Auburn, the study focuses on populations of catfish in the Coosa River below Mitchell, Jordan and Bouldin dams and at several sites in Lake Jordan.

Blue, channel and flathead catfish, said Irwin, represent the largest fish populations in most of Alabama's river systems and are vitally important to the state's recreational and commercial fishing industries. In 1996 (the latest statistics available) more than 330,000 anglers fished for catfish in Alabama spending some $328 million on supplies, fees and other related costs. Catfish also are considered a commercial species in the state and are regulated only through commercial license sales. No creel or size limits are currently in place for catfish harvesting.

"Recreational catfish anglers have expressed concerns to ADWFF about what they have perceived to be excessive commercial harvest on several Alabama reservoirs," said Fisheries Assistant Chief Nick Nichols of ADWFF. However, some actions to restrict commercial harvest that have been undertaken by other states have brought commercial and recreational fishers in conflict. To avoid unnecessary discord and make science-based recommendations on catfish management, ADWFF personnel believe that careful evaluation of multi-use fisheries is needed. The information also will be indispensable to scientists because wild catfish populations in the state have rarely before been studied in such depth. Sampling began on the project in April 2001.

Researchers want to know more about growth rates and sizes of wild catfish and also more about harvest rates among both recreational and commercial fishers. To do that, the scientists are enlisting the help of the actual fishers themselves.

"Involving fishers in the process is important because it allows them to be part of the scientific process and also helps us gather more data than our team could possibly collect on our own," said Irwin. And the process is fairly easy - consisting primarily of keeping a diary of fish harvests and reporting any tagged fish they catch.

"Anglers who help with the study will be given a diary, a measuring board and a scale that they will use to record data such as harvest rates, length and weight of the fish, harvesting method and location of the catch," said Irwin. Those participating in the study will be asked to submit their data each month to the researchers, who will keep a database of information.

"We want both recreational and commercial fishers to help with this study," noted Irwin.

In addition, researchers are tagging fish in the Coosa River reservoirs and anglers who catch a tagged fish will be asked to return the tag to the Coop Unit. Rewards will be given to all who turn in found tags. Five dollars will be given to those who return tags with the requested information; all returned tags will be placed in a lottery for a $500 reward at the end of the study.

The researchers hope to begin the angler-assisted phase of the study in May 2001 and are holding public meetings to sign up volunteers and answer any questions residents and fishers may have about the project. The meetings will be held in Clanton on May 22 at the Clanton Conference Center (Alabama Power's Water Course) at 7 p.m. and in Wetumpka on May 24 at the Elmore County Courthouse (Judicial Center: U.S. Highway 231), also at 7 p.m. For more information on the meetings or study, call the Coop Unit at 334-844-9318.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

05/14/01