Alligator Gar are in Trouble- We Need Your Help

Garfan23

Feeder Fish
Mar 14, 2014
2
0
0
United States
GREETINGS MONSTER FISH KEEPERS!
I MUST APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR MAKING THIS MY FIRST POST. I HAVE VISITED THIS SITE MANY TIMES IN THE PAST AND HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM MANY EXPERTS. HOWEVER, I NOW HAVE A REASON I MUST JOIN AND SHARE SOME DISTURBING NEWS WITH YOU. THE ALLIGATOR GAR, THE LARGEST OF ALL TRUE GARS IS FACING THE THREAT OF FURTHER DECLINE IN TEXAS IN THE UNITES STATES. TEXAS IS THE LAST US STATE WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF THESE GIANT ANCIENT FISH LEFT. HOWEVER, THEY ARE CONTINUING TO FACE EXTREME PRESSURE FROM HABITAT LOSS AND HARVESTING FROM SPORT FISHERMEN AND BOW FISHING. THE STATE'S BIOLOGISTS AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION ARE CONCERNED THAT THE SITUATION IS UNSUSTAINABLE. THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE AUTHORITY TO PROTECT THE SPAWNING FEMALES WHEN SPAWNING CONDITIONS OCCUR FROM BEING CAUGHT AND KILLED BEFORE THEY CAN SPAWN. THESE MAGNIFICENT FISH ARE PRACTICALLY DINOSAURS. DUE TO THE LIFE CYCLE THEY ARE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO OVER HARVEST AND LOSS OF HABITAT. THEY TAKE UP TO 15 YEARS TO REACH SEXUAL MATURITY AND THE LARGE BREEDING FEMALES CAN LIVE AT LEAST 80 YEARS. THE STATE'S BIOLOGISTS BELIEVE THEY MAY NOT HAVE SPAWNED AT ALL SINCE 2007. THEY WERE ONCE PRESENT IN 14 STATES, BUT NOW ARE EXTINCT IN MOST OF THOSE STATE AND COMMON IN ONLY TWO STATES, TEXAS AND LOUISIANA. MANY SPORTSMEN ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTED IF THEY ARE ABLE TO EVER SPAWN AGAIN. HOWEVER THIS REGULATION IS FACING STIFF OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY FROM BOW FISHERMEN. WHEN ALLIGATOR GAR SPAWN, THEY CONGREGATE IN LARGE NUMBERS IN SHALLOW WATER. AS ONE OF OUR STATE'S WILDLIFE COMMISSIONERS PUT IT: "LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL." THE BOW HUNTERS ESPECIALLY PRIZE SIZE OVER ANYTHING ELSE. THIS MEANS THEY ARE TARGETING THE LARGEST AND OLDEST FEMALES WHO CARRY THE MOST EGGS. HOWEVER THE EGGS ARE NOT EATEN NOR GENERALLY IS THE MEAT AS THE EGGS ARE VERY TOXIC TO HUMANS. THE USUAL FATE FOR THESE ANCIENT FISH IS A QUICK PHOTO AND THEN THEY ARE GROUND INTO FERTILIZER OR DUMPED. IF THIS CONCERNS YOU PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE PROPOSED REGULATION BELOW AND IF YOU FEEL THE URGE, PLEASE USE THE LINKS AT THE BOTTOM TO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

WITH WARMEST REGARDS FROM TEXAS, USA





Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released the proposed language of the new restrictions on alligator gar spawning areas as part of their agenda for their next meeting at the end of the month.


ACTION
2014-2015 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing Proclamation
March 27, 2014


RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Commission adopt the proposed motion:




BEGIN EXCERPT:
Proposed new §57.977, concerning Spawning Event Closure, would establish a processes to allow the department to temporarily prohibit the take of alligator gar in places where they are spawning or are about to spawn. Alligator gar populations are believed to be declining throughout much of their historical range in North America, which includes the Mississippi River system as well as the coastal rivers of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to northern Mexico. Although the specific severity of these declines is unknown, habitat alteration and over-exploitation are thought to be partially responsible. Alligator gar have been extirpated in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and designated as a “Species of Concern” in Oklahoma and Kentucky. In addition, the Endangered Fishes Committee of the American Fisheries Society has listed the alligator gar as “Vulnerable.” Observed declines in other states, vulnerability to overfishing, and increased interest in the harvest of trophy gar indicate that a conservative management approach is warranted until populations and potential threats can be fully assessed. On that basis, the Commission in 2009 adopted a daily bag limit of one alligator gar per person, which was intended to protect adult fish while allowing limited harvest, thus ensuring population stability. Since 2009, the department has conducted (and is continuing to conduct) research to determine the estimated harvest of alligator gar, quantify reproduction, understand habitat usage, and determine geographic differences in populations. Initial analysis of the research data indicate that alligator gar in Texas have the greatest chance of spawning success if the creation of preferred spawning habitat (the seasonal inundation of low-lying areas of vegetation) occurs in late spring through early summer. Since each year does not necessarily bring seasonal inundation at the optimum time, spawning success varies greatly. For example, department data for the middle Trinity River indicate that between 1980 and 2010, strong reproductive success occurred in only five years (1980, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 2007). Furthermore, in 21 of the years between 1980 and 2010, reproductive success was nonexistent or weak, and in many of these years, rainfall was low or drought conditions occurred. Because the conditions for spawning do not exist on a regular or cyclical basis, and because spawning occurs in shallow waters where numerous gar can be concentrated in one area, alligator gar are extremely vulnerable to harvest during spawning. To protect alligator gar from excessive harvest during spawning, the proposed new rule would allow the executive director of the department to prohibit the take of alligator in an affected area, which would be defined as “an area of fresh water containing environmental conditions conducive for alligator gar spawning” or “an area of fresh water where alligator gar are in the process of spawning activity.” The proposed new rule would define “environmental conditions conducive for alligator gar spawning” as “the components of a hydrological state (including but not limited to water temperatures, duration and timing of flooding events, river discharge rates, and any other factors that are known to be conducive to gar reproduction) that are predictors of the likelihood of spawning activity of alligator gar.” The proposed new rule would require the executive director to provide appropriate public notice when an affected area is declared and when lawful fishing for alligator may resume, and would limit the duration of a prohibition to no more than 30 days. The department believes it is important to provide the angling public with a specific maximum time span for the effectiveness of an action under the proposed new section. The proposed new rule is necessary to manage alligator gar populations and ensure their ability to perpetuate themselves successfully.




At the Work Session meeting on January 22, 2014, staff was authorized to publish the proposed rules in the Texas Register for public comment. The proposed rules appeared in the February 21, 2014 issue of the Texas Register (39 TexReg 1063).


§57.977. Spawning Event Closures.


(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:


(1) Affected area—


(A) an area of fresh water containing environmental conditions conducive for alligator gar spawning; or


(B) an area of fresh water where alligator gar are in the process of spawning activity.


(2) Environmental conditions conducive for alligator gar spawning —the components of a hydrological state (including but not limited to water temperatures, timing and duration of flood events, river discharge rates, and any other factors that are known to be conducive to alligator gar reproduction) that are predictors of the likelihood of spawning activity of alligator gar.


(b) The Executive Director shall prohibit the take or attempted take of alligator gar in an affected area and shall provide appropriate notice to the public when the take or attempted take of alligator gar in an affected area is prohibited. The Executive Director shall provide appropriate public notice as to when lawful fishing in the affected area or areas may resume. An action under this section shall not exceed 30 days in duration.


(c) No person may take or attempt to take alligator gar by any means in an affected area declared by the Executive Director under subsection (b) of this section until the Executive Director gives notice that the lawful take of alligator gar may resume.


§57.978. Violations and Penalties. The penalties for a violation of this subchapter are prescribed by Parks and Wildlife Code.


This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency’s authority to adopt.


Issued in Austin, Texas, on


A summary of public comment on the proposed rules will be presented at the time of the hearing.




CLICK LINK BELOW TO SIGN A PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THIS CHANGE
http://www.change.org/petitions/concerned-sportsmen-support-texas-parks-and-wildlife-s-request-to-protect-the-biggest-fish-in-texas-alligator-gar


CLICK LINK BELOW TO SUBMIT OFFICIAL COMMENTS TO TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE FOR OR AGAINST
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/201403_fishing.phtml
 

Dieselhybrid

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Mar 31, 2010
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Garfan I like you. Great post

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HarleyK

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Aug 17, 2005
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Sorry, you may have a noble cause, but I refuse to read when people shout at me (all caps). Your loss entirely. Not the way to write amongst a friendly crowd of fish keepers.


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kno4te

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Dec 24, 2005
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If it keeps more fish alive....then I'm ok with all caps.


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Miguel

Ole Dawg
MFK Member
Dec 28, 2006
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Very much south..
Great initiative!

Any developments?
 
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