MISSISSIPPI FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY and PADDLEFISH COMMERCIAL FISHERY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2011 Report for Project

MS -434 MISSISSIPPI FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY AND PADDLEFISH COMMERCIAL FISHERY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2011

Report For Project 109:

Freshwater Commercial Fishery Coordination

Freshwater Fisheries Report No. 279

Project Leader: Garry Lucas

Sections:

PADDLEFISH COMMERCIAL FISHERY MOON LAKE SPECIAL FISH HARVEST SEASON FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY HARVEST SURVEY

MISSISSIPPI FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY AND PADDLEFISH COMMERCIAL FISHERY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2011 Table of Contents List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………..4

List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………….5

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………...6

Mississippi Freshwater Commercial Fishery During Fiscal Year 2011 …………………7

Goals for the Paddlefish Commercial ……………………………………………………8

Statistics on the 2010-2011 Freshwater Commercial Fishery for Paddlefish……………9

Moon Lake Special Nongame Gross Fish Harvest Season.……………………………..19

Moon Lake Paddlefish Fishery Monitoring and Stock Assessment……………………..24

Moon Lake Paddlefish Population Estimate……………………………………………..25

Freshwater Commercial Fishery Harvest Survey………………………………………...27

Statistics on the Survey of the Freshwater Commercial Fishery for C Y2010…………..28

Literature Cited…………………………………………………………………………..37

APPENDICES

A. Public Notice F3a-3798; Paddlefish Harvest 2010-2011 Season……………………39 B. Guide To Commercial Harvest Of Paddlefish For The 2010-2011Season………..….47 1. Paddlefish Sale Transaction Form …………………………………………..61 2. Paddlefish Processor Report Form ………………………………………….62 C. Guide To Summer Harvest Of Paddlefish…………………………………………...63 D. Freshwater Commercial Fishing Report Requirements……………………………...68 1. Introductory Flyer……………………………………………………………68 2. Survey Form………………………………………………………………….70 3. Harvest Report Form…………………………………………………………72 E Comparison Of Paddlefish Harvest By Harvest Zones 2010-2011Season…………....74 F. Commercial Fishing License Sales History FY1982-FY2011……………………….76

List of Tables Table Number Page

Table 1. History Of Regulations for the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish ………….….10

Table 2. Paddlefish Catch, Harvest and Egg Data 2008-2010…………………………...... 15

Table 3. Paddlefish CPUE (catch per net set) of Paddlefish Harvester Permit Holders…...15

Table 4. Paddlefish Catch, Harvest and Egg Data for 2010-2011 by Zones ………………16

Table 5. Paddlefish Caviar Retail Products and Retail Value Produced by Paddlefish Processors in 2010-2011……………………………………………………...... 16 Table 6. Nongame Gross Fish Harvest at Moon Lake in December 2010…………………21

Table 7. Nongame Gross Fish Harvest at Moon Lake in February 2011……………...... 23

Table 8. Population Estimate for Paddlefish in Moon Lake for February 6, 2011…………26

Table 9. Paddlefish Catch and Harvest Data from Moon Lake…………………………….27

Table 10. Harvest poundage of nongame gross fish reported by respondents to Commercial fishing surveys for CY2008, CY2009 and CY2010……………….29

Table 11. Grouping of Survey Respondents by Participation in the Fishery for 2010…...... 30

Table 12. Estimated Total Harvest by Commercial Fishing for CY2010………………….31

Table 13. Comparison of Total Harvest (poundage) by Commercial Fishing for 2008 – 2010……………………………………………31

Table 14. Fishing gear effort by respondents to the commercial fishing survey for CY2010………………………………………………………………………32

Table 15. Response to Survey Questions on Why a Person Purchased a Freshwater Commercial Fishing License to Fish During CY2010………………………….33

Table 16. Comparison of POS collected data for FY2003-FY2007 with CY2008 -CY2010 survey data…………………………………………………..33

Table 17. Respondents comments on regulation changes………………………………….34

Table 18. Respondents comments on Fishery Enhancement Items………………………..35

Table 19-. “How many people do you serve?”…………………………………………...... 36 4

List of Figures

Figure Number Page

Figure 1. Number of residents who participated in the commercial fishery by fiscal year………………………………………………………………………………8

Figure 2. Length Frequency of Paddlefish Harvested, Mississippi River Zone During 2010-2011……………………………………….17

Figure 3. Length Frequency of Paddlefish Harvested, SunflowerRiver During February, 2010-2011…………….……………………...17

Figure 4. Length Frequency of Paddlefish Harvested in the Mississippi River and Sunflower River Zones During 2009-2010…………………………….…….18

Figure 5. Length Frequency of Paddlefish Harvested in the Delta Zone and Bear Creek Zone During 2010-2011………………………………….……...18

Figure 6. Moon Lake Paddlefish Catch - Special Commercial Harvest Periods Dec. 2010 & Feb. 2011…………………………………………………………...24

MISSISSIPPI FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY AND PADDLEFISH COMMERCIAL FISHERY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2011

Abstract

This report documents data collected during Fiscal Year 2011 (July 2010 thru June 2011) associated with MDWFP Project 109, Freshwater Commercial Fishery Coordination. The report is presented in 3 parts:

1) Summary of the November 2010- March 2011 season data for the Paddlefish fishery;

2) Summary of the Moon Lake Special Rough Fish Harvest Season;

3) Documentation of the harvest for CY2010 reported by respondents to the Commercial Fishery Harvest Survey.

During Fiscal Year 2011, 599 persons purchased inland commercial fishing licenses, permits or tags.

Statistics on 2010-2011 Commercial Fishery for Paddlefish Roe (November 2010 thru March 2011): Participants – Eight persons had Harvester Permits ($750 each) Eight persons had Paddlefish Helper permits ($100 each) Seven persons had a Processor Permit ($1,000 each) One person had a Buyer permit ($3,000) Catch - 11,810 Paddlefish were caught during the periods open to harvest of eggs; 2,405 Paddlefish were harvested and 9,405 were released from 2,242 net sets during 253 trips over 144 days of harvest. Over a 1,000 of the released Paddlefish had eggs. The egg sacs removed from the harvested Paddlefish weighed 17,136 pounds, which screened out to 11,186 pounds of eggs. No one in 2010 or May and June 2011 participated in the summer fishery. Product - 8,414 pounds of the processed eggs were sold as a product (caviar) packaged for retail sale and identified as originating from Mississippi

Non-Game Gross Fish Survey: During FY2011 MDWFP fisheries biologists accompanied Paddlefish harvesters as they ran their nets during the Moon Lake Special Rough Fish Harvest Season. During this event, data from released Paddlefish were obtained and 101 Paddlefish were released with jaw tags. A section of the Coldwater River was searched for possible Paddlefish spawning sites.

Moon Lake Special Rough Fish Removal Season: A special rough fish harvest season on Moon Lake utilizing permitted Paddlefish harvesters removed 87,000 pounds of rough fish, most of it large Paddlefish.

STATISTICS ON THE FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY FOR CY 2010

Participants (CY2010): 781 - 47% of those that responded to the survey indicated they had a license only to get fish for personal consumption. Each fisher who harvested fish served an average of 21.6 people. Survey returns 249 33% usable return rate Harvest poundage reported by respondents to the CY2010 survey: Buffalo – 456,100 pounds; Channel Catfish – 101,700 pounds; Blue catfish 126,300 pounds; Flathead 71,800 pounds; Common carp -38,000 pounds; Asian carp - 174,400 pounds; Freshwater Drum -17,600 pounds; Gar- 25,900 pounds; Other species harvested – bowfin, shad, bullheads, carpsuckers, grass carp and minnows.

MISSISSIPPI FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2011

During Fiscal Year 2011, 599 persons purchased inland freshwater commercial fishing licenses, permits or tags (Figure 1): The MDWFP sold 568 resident inland freshwater commercial fishing licenses and 25 nonresident licenses. There were 6 persons who purchased slat box licenses or commercial tags, but did not purchase a freshwater commercial fishing license during FY2011. Seventeen (17) persons purchased 24 Paddlefish permits.

During FY2009, 680 persons purchased freshwater commercial fishing licenses, permits or tags, with 669 persons participating in FY2010 freshwater commercial fishery. There were 102 persons who purchased slat basket licenses in FY2011; 119 in FY2010 and 107 in FY2009.Only three persons participated in the Paddlefish fishery in FY2009 and FY2010.

The Fishery Management Plan for the Mississippi Inland Commercial Fishery has a discussion of freshwater commercial fishing license trends related to changes in license structure and license prices (MDWFP, 2010).

This report documents activities associated with the management of Mississippi’s inland freshwater commercial fishery for non-game gross fish (commercial fish or rough fish), including Paddlefish, and non-native fishes during Fiscal Year 2011 (July 2010 to June 2011).

GOALS FOR THE PADDLEFISH COMMERCIAL FISHERY The MDWFP’s aspirations for the Paddlefish commercial fishery are –  Give Mississippians the opportunity to benefit from the lucrative caviar trade, and use that as a way to enhance commercial freshwater fishing industry.  Develop a Mississippi product(s) produced from a sustainable Paddlefish harvest.  Reduce waste from summer mortality of Paddlefish from incidental catch in commercial gear.  To conserve Paddlefish populations for sustainable harvest by future generations. Paddlefish to allow the harvest of Paddlefish within a conservation framework that protects stocks from endangerment to satisfy the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) permit requirements. 8

STATISTICS ON THE 2010-2011 FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY FOR PADDLEFISH: Open Waters – Five Zones: Mississippi River, open November 20, 2010 through March 2011; Mississippi Delta Zone, open December 2010 through February 15, 2011; Sunflower River Zone, open January and February 2011; Bear Creek Zone, open December 2010 and January 2011; Moon Lake Zone open December 6-10, 2010 and February 7-12, 2011.

Participants – Eight persons had Harvester Permits ($750 each), with seven of these persons also having Processor Permits ($1000 each) One person had a Buyer/Exporter Permit ($3,000 each) Eight persons had Paddlefish Helper Permits ($100)

Catch - 11,810 Paddlefish were caught during the periods open for harvest of eggs; 2,405 Paddlefish were harvested and 9,405 were released from 2,242 net sets during 253 trips over 144 days of harvest. Only 511(21%) of the harvested Paddlefish were males. Five thousand two hundred forty five (5,245 or 56%) of the released Paddlefish were less than legal size with 1,087(12%) of the released fish having eggs, while 4,160 (44%) released fish were legal size without eggs. The egg sacs removed from the harvested Paddlefish weighed 17,136 pounds, which yielded 11,186 pounds of screened eggs (caviar). The length of the harvested Paddlefish (both male & female) ranged from 34 to 51 inches eye-to-fork length (EFL). No persons, for either CY2010 or CY2011, have purchased tags to allow them to harvest Paddlefish during the summer harvest season.

Product - 8,414 pounds of the processed eggs (75 % of screened eggs) were sold as a product (caviar) packaged for retail sale and identified as originating from Mississippi. The flesh from 2,009 Paddlefish was processed for sale of flesh.

The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks closed the state to the commercial harvest of Paddlefish in April 2007. The fishery was re-opened in December 2008 on border waters shared with Arkansas (Lucas, 2009). The fishery was opened with strict regulations that possibly make the Mississippi commercial freshwater Paddlefish fishery one of the most intensively regulated fisheries, anywhere. A synopsis of the regulations history for Paddlefish is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. History Of Regulations for the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish Prior to 1986 – 32 inch length limit on total length 1987 – 54 inch length limit (Total Length ) 1988 – closed season, January thru April (closed Nov. thru April on the Pascagoula River system) 1994 – closed season Nov. thru April; Statewide 2007 – No Open Season for Paddlefish Harvest (Public Notice F4-2999) 2008 – Open Season Dec. 2008 to March 2009 to harvesters with special permits on border waters with Arkansas. Harvest was restricted to fish greater than 34 inches eye to fork length (EFL) to match length limit established by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. (Public Notice F3798) 2009 – Harvesters have to have a special permit to harvest Paddlefish during season open to collection of eggs. On border waters with Arkansas: Open Season was Dec. 2009 thru March 2010, with harvest restricted to fish greater than 34 inches (EFL) to match length limit established by Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Two new zones opened for2009-2010 season: Tallahatchie/Coldwater River and Sunflower River; Open Season was January and February, with harvest restricted to fish greater than 37 inches (EFL).

Established a summer Paddlefish fishery where during the months of May through August any commercial licensed fisher could harvest one Paddlefish per day for personal consumption, but any Paddlefish in possession must be tagged. (Public Notice F2-3798) 2010 – Harvesters must have a special permit to harvest Paddlefish during the season open to collection of eggs. On border waters with Arkansas: the harvest season was Nov. 20, 2010 thru March 2011, with harvest restricted to fish greater than 34 inches (EFL) to match length limit established by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. The Harvest Zones open in 2009, were retained, and two new zones opened for 2010-2011 season: Bear Creek watershed and Moon Lake. In these zones, harvest was restricted to fish greater than 37 inches (EFL). The zones had the following harvest periods: Tallahatchie/Coldwater River, Dec.1 thru Feb. 15; Sunflower River, Jan. thru Feb.; Bear Creek, Dec. thru Jan, and Moon Lake a week each month in Dec.2010 and Feb. 2011 beginning the first Sunday of these months. The definition of processing location was changed that allowed Processors to remove eggs after landing.

The summer Paddlefish fishery was modified to allow any freshwater commercial licensed fisher to harvest five Paddlefish per day for personal consumption or sale, but any Paddlefish in their possession must be tagged. (Public Notice F3a-3798)

The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks modified the Paddlefish regulations in September 2010 to: a) Add additional waters for the harvest of Paddlefish for eggs, b) Change the opening dates on Delta and MS River zones, c) Allow the removal of egg sacs after landing, d) Change the summer fishery to allow the daily take, and sale, of 5 Paddlefish. The regulations for the 2010-2011 Paddlefish fishery are found in Public Notice F3a-3798 (Appendix A). A summary of the key elements of Public Notice F3a-3798 are:  Harvesters must have a special permit to harvest Paddlefish.  Cost of a Paddlefish Harvester Permit was $750.  The number of Paddlefish Harvester Permits available for sale was limited to 25.  Harvesters and Processors must attend a mandatory meeting on the Paddlefish season.  Harvested Paddlefish must be at least 37” EFL.  Harvested Paddlefish must be tagged.  Eggs must remain within the fish until the fish reach the processing facility of a permitted buyer. A person could buy Paddlefish or Paddlefish eggs if they possessed either a Paddlefish Processor Permit, at cost of $1,000, or a Paddlefish Buyer/Exporter Permit, at cost of $3,000. But the processing facility did not have to have permanent address so the initial processing (removal of eggs to place them on ice) could begin once the boat reached the shore. The tongue could be cut after harvest to bleed the fish to improve egg quality.  Harvesters were required to report the harvest of Paddlefish on a Paddlefish Sale Transaction Form that the permitted buyers were required to submit to the MDWFP within 24 hours of any exchange of Paddlefish.  Mississippi River Zone –(border waters with Arkansas as established in Public Notice 3672) o Season: November 20, 2010 thru March 31, 2011 o Harvested Paddlefish must be at least 34” eye-fork length. To have consistent regulations in border waters, Mississippi harvesters would abide by the lesser length between the two states, which was 34 inches per Arkansas regulations.  Delta Zone (waters of the Tallahatchie and Cold Water Rivers north of State Route 32, which includes a portion of Tallahatchie County and all of Quitman and Tunica Counties). o Season: December 1, 2010 thru February 15, 2011 o Harvested Paddlefish must be at least 37” EFL  Sunflower River Zone (waters of the Sunflower River north of State Route 16, which includes a portion of Sharkey County, and the Sunflower River where it is the border between Sunflower and Washington Counties). o Season: January thru February 2011 o Harvested Paddlefish must be at least 37” EFL  Bear Creek Zone (waters of Bear Creek from the Wasp Lake Structure upstream

to Macon Lake Road in Humphreys, Sunflower, and Leflore Counties. The zone included Three Mile lake, Four Mile Lake, Lower Six Mile Lake and Wasp Lake) o Season: December 2010 thru January 2011 o Harvested Paddlefish must be at least 37” EFL  Moon Lake Zone (waters of Moon Lake in Coahoma County) o Season: December 6 thru 10, 2010 and February 7 thru 12, 2011 o Harvested Paddlefish must be at least 37” EFL o All fish must be landed between 0800-1600 hrs o Fishers must set 200 yards of four inch webbing gill net  Public Notice F3a 3798 established a summer fishery for Paddlefish during months of May thru August where any person with a valid commercial fishing license could harvest five Paddlefish per day. To possess a Paddlefish during the summer fishery it had to be tagged. During the summer of 2010 the fishery was regulated by PN F2- 3798 which allowed only one Paddlefish per day for personal consumption. No one participated in the 2010 summer fishery. The waters open to summer harvest in 2010 were any waters of the state open to commercial fishing, except for the Tennessee River, Tombigbee River and Pascagoula River drainages.

Rationale for the Paddlefish Harvest Zones- Mississippi River Zone. This zone is the border waters with Arkansas. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission opened Arkansas waters along the Mississippi River to Paddlefish harvest in 2002. The MDWFP opened the border waters to Paddlefish harvest in 2008 to give Mississippi residents the opportunity to participate in a fishery already taking place on these waters.

Mississippi experienced Paddlefish harvest from 2002 to 2006 during a period from mid September thru October, about 45 days each year. Most of the Paddlefish harvesters during 2002-2006 were nonresident licensed fishers. When Paddlefish harvest was closed statewide in 2007, the sale of nonresident commercial licenses dropped by 22 licenses sold. Fish surveys by the MDWFP indicated that Paddlefish populations had been impacted by the harvest during 2002-2006, but that viable Paddlefish populations existed in waters thought to be targeted for egg harvest (Lucas, 2009). The MDWFP decided that a conservative beginning point in allowing harvest of Paddlefish would be to limit harvest to 25 persons for a 60 day season, along with the imposition of a 37 inch (EFL) harvest restriction and have refuge areas that were closed to Paddlefish harvest.

Delta Zone (Tallahatchie and Coldwater Rivers) – Surveys by the MDWFP found harvestable size Paddlefish in waters of the open zone. Waters in the Tallahatchie River drainage south of the open zone had Paddlefish, but none were found to be greater than 37” EFL. The harvest in this zone in 2009-2010 was very low so, the fishery for 2010-2011 was extended to 75 days. 12

Sunflower River Zone - This zone had 2 refuge areas. The first refuge was the Sunflower River and lakes in Issaquena and Sharkey Counties south of Route 16.The second refuge was the upper end of the Sunflower Lock and Dam pool in Sunflower County.

Bear Creek Zone - The MDWFP found this system to have Paddlefish greater than 37 inches.

Moon Lake Zone - See the discussion in the Moon Lake Section of his report.

Summer Harvest Zone Commercial fishermen had complained that many Paddlefish caught in nets in the summer do not survive (Lucas, 2009). To address this, fishers were given an opportunity to harvest these fish, with a mechanism (tagging and reporting requirements) to document this mortality for biologists to obtain data to make management decisions on whether to open the fishery for summer meat harvest. During the summer of 2010, harvested Paddlefish could only be used for personal consumption. The Summer Harvest Zone was state-wide (on waters open to commercial fishing) as all state waters would have water temperatures not suitable for good survival of Paddlefish caught in over-night gill net sets. No one participated in the 2010 summer Paddlefish fishery.

Once the regulations established by Public Notice F3a-3798 were adopted, Fisheries Bureau staff took actions to inform the public, commercial licensed persons, and Conservation Officers of these regulations. The MDWFP ‘commercial fishing” web page had links to a “highlights” summary of the Paddlefish regulations, and a link to a copy of the Public Notice. Persons with freshwater commercial fishing licenses and who also had an e-mail address (75) were sent an e- mail notifying them of the Paddlefish fishery. Conservation Officers were notified of the regulations by a guide made for their use, which was distributed to those Conservation Officers who would possibly have a direct involvement in the enforcement of Paddlefish regulations.

Persons seeking to obtain Paddlefish permits had to apply for permits through the Point of Sale (POS) license system. The applications were available October 1 to October 25, 2010 at any license agent; and the cost for the application was $5.00 plus applicable transaction fees. Those applying for permits were screened by the MDWFP to ascertain if they had any previous convictions of any state or federal fish and wildlife laws within the last three years. Such violations would preclude them from being qualified to purchase a Paddlefish permit.

Persons seeking to obtain Paddlefish permits were required to attend a mandatory meeting which was held November 10, 2010 at the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery. At that meeting, Paddlefish harvesters and egg buyers were able to meet. An instruction manual titled “Guide to the 13

Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish for the 2010-2011 Season (Appendix B) on filling out the forms was distributed to those attending the meeting. The instruction manual also discussed the rules and regulations concerning fishing for and harvesting Paddlefish and listed landmarks that denoted the boundaries of the harvest zones. The regulations were explained to the 12 attendees along with how to fill out the Paddlefish Sale Transaction Form to document harvest of Paddlefish.

There was a significant increase in participation and harvest for the Paddlefish fishery in 2010- 2011 versus the past two seasons. Paddlefish Harvesters increased from two to eight. There were 8 Paddlefish Helpers compared to none in previous years. Seven of the Paddlefish Harvesters purchased Paddlefish Processor permits to allow them to remove eggs upon landing. One person purchased a Paddlefish Buyer/Exporter Permit. In FY2011 an expanded Paddlefish processing industry was created in Mississippi because one processor hired 12 persons as seasonal employees to process eggs and process and package flesh. In prior years, Mississippi Paddlefish eggs were processed out-of-state.

Paddlefish catch, harvest and egg statistics from 2008-2011 are provided in Table 2. Paddlefish catch rates from 2008-2011 are listed in Table 3.

Although there was an increase in the number of Paddlefish harvested from the Mississippi River Zone, the vast majority of the harvest came from the Sunflower River and Moon Lake Zones. A comparison of the Paddlefish harvest between the harvest zones is presented in Table 4. The quantity of retail Paddlefish caviar and the estimated retail value of that caviar are provided in Table 5. The length frequency of harvested Paddlefish is presented in Figures 2 through 5

Table 2. Paddlefish Catch, Harvest and Egg Data 2008 – 2011

n/a = During 2009-2010 season, the first screened weight was recorded, not raw egg sac weight

Table 3. Paddlefish CPUE (catch per net set) of Paddlefish Harvester Permit holders 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 Catch Rate for ALL Paddlefish 0.64 3.73 5.27. Catch rate for legal size Paddlefish* 0.26 1.73 2.93 Catch rate for undersize Paddlefish 0.38 2.00 2.34 Catch rate for harvested Paddlefish 0.16 .57 1.07 * Includes both harvested & released fish

Table 4. Paddlefish Catch, Harvest and Egg Data for 2010-2011 by Harvest Zones

Table 5. Paddlefish Caviar Retail Products and Retail Value Produced by Paddlefish Processors in 2010-2011

Figure 2. Length Frequency of Paddlefish Harvested Mississippi River Zone 2010-2011

50 40 30 20 River 10

Lakes Number Harvested Number 0 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 EFL in inches

Figure 3. Length Frequency of Paddlefish Harvested Sunflower River Zone, 2010-2011

350

300

250

200

150

Number Harvested Number 100

0 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 EFL in Inches

Figure 4. Length Frequency of Paddlefish Harvested in the Mississippi River and Sunflower River Zones During 2009-2010

20 p r H 15 c T a 10 e o r MS R n t v 5 Sunflower R t a e

l s

35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 o t 34 f EFL Length in Inches (1/2"increments)

The following comments on Paddlefish regulations were received from three persons responding to the Commercial Fishing Harvest Survey, discussed later in this report: 1. Allow take of Paddlefish without permits or tagging 2. Open Paddlefish season in Wilkinson County (Lake Mary)

Paddlefish caught in over-night sets of gill nets during periods when water is above 15oC have a low rate of survival (Bettoli and Scholten, 2006). Therefore, there is waste associated with efforts to conserve the harvest of Paddlefish by mandating that there be no harvest during summer months. The survey of the freshwater commercial fishery harvest for 2010 estimated that between 1,700 to 4,100 Paddlefish were caught and released by freshwater commercial fishers; probably with a sizeable portion of these being released dead especially if they were caught during the summer months.

The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in adopting Public Notice F2- 3798 began to address this issue by allowing residents with freshwater commercial fishing licenses and Paddlefish tags to keep one Paddlefish per day for personal consumption during the months of May to August. The kept Paddlefish had to be tagged, so fishers first had to purchase tags to allow them to possess Paddlefish. A reporting form for fishers to record their catch accompanied the sale of the summer Paddlefish tags. The reporting of summer Paddlefish harvest could provide MDWFP biologists with data regarding the impact that summer fishing has on Paddlefish stocks. This is needed to evaluate the summer fishery and determine if a more expanded summer meat fishery could be allowed. .

During 2010 no summer Paddlefish tags were sold for the summer harvest of Paddlefish. After discussions with commercial fishers Public Notice F3a-3798 made changes to promote participation in the summer fishery. Commercial fishers who pre-purchased tags were allowed to keep 5 Paddlefish per day and those Paddlefish could be sold. See Appendix C for a copy of the information sheet on the summer Paddlefish fishery, a Paddlefish harvest report form, and a Transaction Form. During 2011 no one chose to participate in the summer Paddlefish fishery. So no one took advantage of this new harvest opportunity despite several comments from freshwater commercial fisherman over the last several years who wanted to retain these dead Paddlefish.

MOON LAKE SPECIAL NONGAME GROSS FISH HARVEST SEASON

Moon Lake is a 2,300 acre oxbow lake located in Coahoma County. The MDWFP fish population surveys in 2009 and 2010 found electrofishing catch rates of buffalo and rough fish well above average for Delta lakes, but game fish catch rates were below average. Moon Lake has a history of being closed to commercial fishing since about 1950, with the lake open to periodic, regulated, short periods of commercial fishing. The lake was last opened to commercial fishing in 1986 (MDWFP, 2011, Moon Lake FMP). To evaluate the use of commercial fishing as 19

a tool in the management of the fish stocks, especially in an effort to increase game fish stocks, the lake was opened to nongame gross fish or commercial fish harvest for two one week periods, from December 6 -10, 2010 and from February 7-, 2011 (PN F3a_3798). Nets could be set the Sunday preceding these dates. Only persons with Paddlefish Harvester Permits were permitted to participate in the special fishery and all fish had to be landed at Moon Lake Park (Paradise Point) Public Boat Ramp between 8am-4pm to be witnessed by MDWFP personnel. Although fishers were targeting Paddlefish, to be able to participate in this special Moon Lake harvest season, each fisher was required to set at least 200 yards of four inch mesh gill netting and had to harvest all carp and legal size buffalo that were caught. A severe weather event (snow) occurred February 9 that made it necessary to close the fishery for February10 by emergency order from the MDWFP Executive Director. Fishing was resumed on the February11 and extended to February 12.

During the two harvest periods an estimated 87,245 pounds of non-game gross fish were harvested or removed from the lake; this equates to almost 38 pounds per acre. Paddlefish dominated the removal; consisting of over 90% of the harvest by weight.

December 2010 Moon Lake Harvest Eight harvesters in six boats participated in the December 2010 week of special nongame gross fish harvest season on Moon Lake. The harvesters set an average of 32 gill nets each day with an average of 4,100 yards of netting.

The harvest was dominated by Paddlefish of which 468 were harvested, with majority being females with eggs. Harvesters released an additional 954 Paddlefish that were either too short for harvest or did not have eggs, but this number includes multiple recaptures. The harvested Paddlefish were large. Estimated harvest was about 30,950 pounds of Paddlefish that produced 2,363.5 pounds of caviar from 4,648 pounds of egg-sacs. The female Paddlefish had an average egg sac weight of 17.6 pounds that produced an average of 7.01 pounds of caviar.

There were 2,852 pounds (1.25 pounds/acre) of other nongame gross fish harvested, dominated by bigmouth buffalo and blue and flathead catfish: See Table 6 for a list of species harvested and released during December 2010 season at Moon Lake.

The fishers were not prepared to handle and process the very high catch rates of large Paddlefish they encountered. They did not have the facilities to process and store all the Paddlefish flesh they caught and did not have room in their boats to get all the fish landed, so they selected to harvest female Paddlefish with eggs, releasing most Paddlefish without eggs. Many Paddlefish-- maybe as high as 30% per day --were caught multiple times, in the five and six inch mesh gill nets they used. Many fish were released in poor shape after long periods where the gill operculum was constricted by the webbing. There was post release mortality as 141 Paddlefish 20

carcasses floated up several weeks after the first week of fishing closed, with the vast majority (about 80%) of these fish being legal size fish. These carcasses totaled an additional 9,000 pounds of nongame gross fish removed from the lake.

Table 6. Nongame Gross Fish Harvest at Moon Lake in December 2010.

NUMBER NUMBER AVERAGE POUNDAGE SPECIES HARVESTED RELEASED WEIGHT HARVESTED (pounds) Buffalo Bigmouth 118 10.20 1,203.60

Smallmouth 2 4.18 8.40

Black 17 9.56 162.50

Catfish

Channel 3

Blue 50 43 17.00 850.00 Flathead 14 7 15.70 219.80 Carp

Common 26 10.96 285.00

Bighead 2 15.40 30.80

Silver 3 15.40 46.20

Gar

Spotted 11

Shortnose 3 20 4.20 12.60 Longnose 4 3 8.30 33.20 Alligator 0 0 Drum 0 0

Total 239 87 2,852.00

Paddlefish 468 954* 66.13 30,949.00 Post harvest 141 9,000.00 mortality *represents multiple recaptures

February 2011 Moon Lake Harvest Eight harvesters in seven boats participated in the February 2011 week long opening of the special nongame gross fish harvest season on Moon Lake. The harvesters set an average of 32 gill nets each day with an average of 4,117 yards of netting per day.

The harvest was again dominated by Paddlefish of which 609 were harvested. Although the majority of the harvested Paddlefish were females with eggs, the fishers had the facilities to handle more flesh so more males (335 in Feb. 2011 versus 121 in Dec.2010) were harvested in the February 2011 season. Harvesters released an additional 479 Paddlefish captured with 37% of those being too short for legal harvest. The harvested Paddlefish were large with an average weight of 66.13 pounds. Estimated Paddlefish harvest was about 40,270 pounds that produced 3,365 pounds of caviar from 5,320 pounds of egg-sacs. The female Paddlefish had an average egg sac weight of 14.4 pounds that produced an average of 9.25 pounds of caviar. The increase in caviar weight per fish for the February 2011 period may have been due to less stress on the females, quicker processing time, less egg fat that led to better screening, and better proficiency by the processors in egg screening.

The 4,150 pounds (1.83 pounds/acre) of other nongame gross fish harvested, was dominated by bigmouth buffalo, but carp, gar, and blue and flathead catfish were also prominent. The gar and catfish were of a larger size than the size harvested in the December 2010 season. See Table 7 for information on the Moon Lake February 2011 harvest.

The Paddlefish catch during the December 2010 and February 2011 harvest seasons at Moon Lake is shown in Figure 6.

Table 7. Nongame Gross Fish Harvest at Moon Lake in February 2011.

NUMBER NUMBER AVERAGE POUNDAGE SPECIES HARVESTED RELEASED WEIGHT HARVESTED

Buffalo Bigmouth 203 10.40 2,111.20

Smallmouth 3 4.18 12.50

Black 8 8.08 64.60

Catfish

Channel 2

Blue 28 6 13.20 369.60 Flathead 13 23.70 308.10

Carp

Common 54 9.03 487.60

Bighead 6 68.40 410.40

Silver 2 15.40 30.80

Grass 1 20.10

Gar

Spotted

Shortnose 2 1.10 2.20

Longnose 14 2 23.27 325.80 Alligator 0 0 Drum 2 26.20

Mooneye 1 1.50

Total 337 10 4,171.00

Paddlefish 609 479* 66.13 40,270.00 *represents multiple recaptures

Figure 6. Moon Lake Paddlefish Catch - Special Commercial Harvest Periods Dec. 2010 & Feb. 2011

MOON LAKE PADDLEFISH FISHERY MONITORING AND STOCK ASSESSMENT

Biologists and Conservation Officers were present to witness the landing of harvested fish and collect data. Biologists collected Paddlefish jaws for aging and weight data on some landed fish. During the first season, few harvested Paddlefish were weighed as biologists did not have a scale with the capacity to weigh large fish. A 300 pound platform scale was available during the February 2011 season to get more weight data. Over 400 rostrums were scanned for presence of coded wire tags (CWT) that had been implanted in seven Paddlefish in Moon Lake in 2008. Other biologists were in boats observing harvest as it occurred and collected data on Paddlefish the harvesters had to (sublegal size), or wished to release. On these fish, biologists recorded length (to nearest 1/16”), noted if eggs were present or absents, and the fish were scanned for CWT. During the December 2010 harvest period the Paddlefish were then jaw tagged with size 16 Monel bird bands and released. Each tag (band) was serially numbered and was stamped with the MDWFP contact information, if the fish was dead at capture, sex was determined; jaws were collected, and the fish was weighted if small enough for the scale capacity. During the December 2010 harvest season 66 Paddlefish jaw bones were collected and 101 Paddlefish were tagged. During February 2011 harvest season, 196 jaw bones were collected in conjunction with

assistance from personnel of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). ERDC personnel assisted with the biological assessment of Moon Lake Paddlefish through funding of the Mississippi Valley Division, US Army Corps of Engineers. ERDC personnel present during the February 2011 harvest season collected morphological data on Paddlefish and the jaw bones were retained by ERDC for aging Paddlefish. No CWT were detected in any fish scanned for these tags.

The Paddlefish tagged in December 2010 harvest season were used to estimate Paddlefish population size in February2011 harvest season. The two month time span should have been enough time for the tagged Paddlefish to distribute themselves throughout the fish population of Moon Lake. The tags were easy to detect but hard to read. No Paddlefish were tagged during the February 2011 harvest period because it was felt that the difficulty in reading tag numbers and the logistics in coordinating tag detection with the harvesters made it impractical to separate December 2010 tagged fish from any recently tagged fish to meet the population estimation protocol that tagged fish need time to distribute throughout the fish population.

Data on recaptures of marked Paddlefish at Moon Lake fish were used to make population estimates based on the following formula (USFWS, 2009):

MOON LAKE PADDLEFISH POPULATION ESTIMATE Fish caught and tagged in the marking event (M) x Total fish recaptured (C) Total recaptured fish that were also tagged (R)

Five separate estimates of the Moon Lake Paddlefish population were made for each day of harvest during the February 2011 harvest season using the catch data from that day (Table 8). Of the 141 Paddlefish carcasses collected from the December 2010 post-season harvest mortality, 111 were checked for jaw tags. Five had tags, and 15 were questionable for tags because of decomposition of the jaws and were assumed not to have tags. So, 106 of the 111 post season Paddlefish carcasses checked did not have tags. The ratio of tagged carcasses to those checked for tags (5 out of 111) expanded to 141 would be 6 tagged carcasses. Barr and McDonough (1976) found that72% of the fish was recovered in late season population surveys where rotenone was used to kill fish in a specific area. This percentage was used to estimate the actual number of post season carcasses to include the number of Paddlefish that may have sank and were not counted by visual observation. If 141 fish is 72% of the total mortality, then 195 fish represents the total post harvest mortality. This adjustment (5 out of 111 equals 8 out of 195) accounted for another three Paddlefish tags to give an estimate of 9 tagged Paddlefish that died post harvest. Therefore 92 tagged Paddlefish (101 tagged – 9 mortality) were presumed present in the lake at the beginning of the February 2011 season for a population estimate.

Table 8. Five estimates of Paddlefish population size for Moon Lake ranged from 1,109 to 2,056 fish, with an average value of 1,625 fish.

Recaptured Population Total Tagged Available Fish that were estimate for Catch Fish Tagged Tagged date Date (C ) Harvest Harvest (M) (R ) 2/7 217 132 5 92 18 1109 2/8 263 168 4 86 11 2056 2/9 314 148 4 82 12 2146 2/11 175 101 7 75 11 1193 2/12 137 60 4 71 6 1621 Total 1140 609 24 67 58 Avg. =1625

The exploitation rate for the harvest of 6,098 Paddlefish from an average population estimate of 1,625 fish was 37%; from 160 gill net (average of 32 nets per day for 5 days) in 5 days of fishing in February 2011.

Twenty four of the 92 tagged fish (26%) remaining in the population after the Dec. 2010 season were harvested in Feb. 2011. Of the 101 Paddlefish that were tagged in Dec. 2010, 33 (33%) were either harvested or died from being caught.

Total Paddlefish harvest from Moon Lake in 10 days of fishing with 351 gill nets was 1,077 fish weighing and estimated 71,220 pounds. Table 9 provides a comparison of various catch and harvest statistics from the Moon Lake Harvest seasons.

Table 9. Paddlefish Catch and Harvest Data from Moon Lake. Parameter December 2010 February 2011 Total Number Harvested 468 609 1077 Number Released 954 479 1133 Weight Harvested (lbs.) 30,650 40,270 71,220 Post Dec. 2010 mortality 141 fish (9,000 lbs) 1274 fish;* 80,220 lbs.* Egg Sac weight (lbs.) 4,648 5,320 9,968 Caviar weight (lbs.) 2,363 3,365 5,728 % yield of egg sac wt. 50.8% 63.2% 57.4% Dockside value of caviar $141,780.00 $201,900.00 $343,680.00 (@ $60.00 per pound) Retail Value of caviar $675,463.00 $961,885.00 $1,637,348.00 (@$285.00 per pound)**

*represents the total harvest and harvested weight including post season fish that were recovered

** based on internet search of Paddlefish caviar prices.

FY2011 was the third year of the regulated Paddlefish fishery that allowed the take of eggs. Participation this last year was substantially higher than the first two years, but yet is only about a third of the effort that was believed to be seeking Paddlefish prior to the 2007 closure of the fishery. Paddlefish harvesters can have a substantial impact on Paddlefish abundance. The estimated Paddlefish exploitation rate was 37% in 5 days of fishing in February 2011 at Moon Lake. On the Sunflower River the presence of Paddlefish larger than 42” EFL showed a decrease in the 2010-2011 season compared with that from the 2009-2010 seasons. But there were days on the Sunflower River where 100 or more legal size Paddlefish were released and more fish were released with eggs (985) than were harvested with eggs (908). The MDWFP needs to maintain a tightly regulated fishery that currently appears to be successful in conserving the Paddlefish stocks.

FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY HARVEST SURVEY

During the 2008 Mississippi Legislative Session, Statute 49-7-90 was amended to require that persons with freshwater commercial fishing licenses report their harvest of nongame gross fish. A harvest survey was sent to each of the 781 persons who purchased a commercial freshwater fishing license during FY2010 and for the months of July through October for FY2011. These 781 persons had a license to fish some portion of calendar year 2010. Each license holder was

mailed a packet that contained a notice letter, a commercial fishing survey form, a harvest report form and an addressed envelope to return the forms (Appendix D). The notice letter stated the requirement to report harvest, notified recipients of the upcoming effort to modify commercial freshwater fishing regulations (PN 2999) and provided information on how to participate in the Paddlefish fishery. The survey form had questions that elicited why a person purchased a freshwater commercial fishing license and asked for recommendations to changes in regulations or things to improve fishing or fish stocks. The harvest form asked questions on what gears were used and the how many fish were harvested. The gear use included questions on number of days; number of gear units used, and preferred fishing location. Copies of the items mailed to them are found in Appendix D. The surveys were mailed in January and February 2011. The deadline for return of these surveys was February 21, 2011. Two hundred sixty seven (267) surveys were returned, of which 17 were returned undeliverable and one returned marked as deceased. So, 249 completed surveys (32.6%) were returned with information from 763 delivered surveys. Table 10 shows the harvest poundage of nongame gross fish reported by respondents to the CY2008, CY2009 and CY2010 surveys.

STATISTICS ON THE SURVEY OF THE FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY FOR CY2010

Participants (during CY2010): 763 – 48% indicated they had a license only to get fish for personal consumption. Each fisher who harvested fish served an average of 21.6 people. Survey returns 249 - 33% return rate (249/763)

Table10. Harvest poundage of nongame gross fish reported by respondents to freshwater commercial fishing surveys for CY2008, CY2009 and CY2010.

Fish CY2010 CY2009 CY2008 Buffalo 69, 800 fish (456,100 lbs) 460,100 lbs 500,000 lbs. Channel Catfish 41,800 fish (101,700 lbs) 119,100 lbs. 170,000+ Blue catfish 32,700 fish (126,300 lbs) 142,500 lbs Flathead 12,050 Fish (71,800 lbs) 93,100 lbs 50,000 Catfish Common Carp 4,400 Fish (38,000 lbs) 63,200 lbs 70,000 Big head Carp 4,070 fish (108,500 lbs) 65,700 lbs 60,000+ Silver Carp 9,060 Fish (65,900 lbs) 11,400 lbs Freshwater 4,900 Fish (17,600 lbs) 19,300 lbs 11,000 Drum Gar 2,300 (25,900 lbs) 16,800 lbs 14,000 (140 alligator gar reported) (77 alligator gar (216 alligator gar reported) reported) Paddlefish 1,659 fish (caught & released) 1,445 fish Not asked Other species Bowfin (32), carpsuckers Eel (167), bowfin (20), eel, bowfin, shad, and (Number (1017), bullheads (1,806), carpsuckers (242), minnows harvested) shad, skipjack (2) grass carp bullheads (1,364), (250) and minnows shad, turtles and minnows Number 249 265 230 harvesters (Response rate 33%) (Response rate 40%) (Response rate 33%) reporting catch

Commercial fishers are required by law and regulation to report harvest on forms supplied by the MDWFP. Lucas (2011a) postulated that the low response rate may be explained by the high turnover in the fishery with those who were not planning on renewing their licenses not responding to the survey request. This dynamic nature of the fishery could also explain, in part, the high number of persons (28%) who said they did not harvest any fish in the past year.

Table 11 shows the participation in the 2010 commercial fishery by long term participants and those who have only been in the fishery a short time. As was done for 2009 the harvest estimate was stratified by long-term and short-term participants. Expansion factors were computed for long-term (257 divided by 128 = 2.01) and short term participants (461+63 divided by 121 = 4.33) by dividing the number of license holders by years of participation by number of respondents to survey also by years of participation in fishery. Like in 2009, fishers who had fished for multiple years had a higher ratio of response to the survey. But, the stratification did

not break out as neatly as it did in 2009. It was noticed that several respondents who had licenses in FY2011, also had licenses in FY2009, but did not have licenses in FY2010. These persons were placed in the short-term category, but they may have a long-term commitment to commercial fishing.

Table 11. Grouping of Survey Respondents by Participation in the Fishery for 2010. Years they had License Number of Licensee Number of Respondents Classification to Survey Multiple years FY 2008 Long term and/or, FY 2009, with 257 128 (expansion factor 2.01) FY 2010 FY 2010 only 461 Short term 121 New for FY2011 85 (expansion factor 4.33) (only 63 surveyed)

Table 12 provides the estimated total harvest by commercial fishing for CY10. Estimated harvest figures are reported on a direct expansion basis using reported harvest by the 33% of respondents who returned the survey. Expanded harvest was also stratified by years of participation in the commercial fishery.

Table 13 compares the total harvest from commercial fishing for CY2008, CY 2009 and CY2010 using direct expansion of reported harvest. Over 3.1 million pounds of nongame gross fish were harvested in CY2010 which represents a 29% and a 13% increase over the CY2009 and CY2008 harvest figures, respectively. Harvested poundage increased in CY2010 from the CY2009 amounts for Buffalo, Channel Catfish Blue Catfish, Asian Carp, Freshwater Drum and Gar. The harvest of Gar, Freshwater Drum and Asian Carp has increased each year while the harvest of Common Carp has decreased each year. The harvest of Asian Carp has dramatically increased by 237% in three years from 240,000 pounds (CY2008) to 568,700 pounds (CY2010).

Table 12. Estimated Total Harvest by Commercial Fishing for CY2010 Direct Expansion of Expansion of harvest by participants stratified by years of reported harvest by participation respondents to survey (33% of License holders Long term Short term Sum (pounds) Species responded to survey) Buffalo 1,429,700 pounds 582,900 719,100 1,302,000 pounds pounds Channel 131,200 fish 61,600 fish 48,460 fish Catfish (318,900 pounds) (134,900 pounds) (149,800 pounds) 284,700

Blue Catfish 102,400 fish 55,200 fish 22,590 fish 309,700 (396,000 pounds) (205,600 pounds) (104,100 pounds)

Flathead 37,800 16,500 fish @ 16,700 fish 199,900 Catfish (225,100 pounds) (96,200 pounds) (103,800 pounds)

Common Carp 119,200 pounds 51,300 pounds 54,100 pounds 105,400

Asian Carp 568,700 pounds 293,600 pounds 153,200 pounds 446,800

Freshwater 55,400 pounds 29,500 pounds 12,900 pounds 42,400 Drum Gar 71,300 pounds 25,100 pounds 57,800 pounds 82,900

Table 13. Comparison of Total Harvest (poundage) by Commercial Fishing for 2008 - 2010 CY2010 CY2009 CY2008 Direct Expansion of Direct Expansion of Direct Expansion of reported reported harvest reported harvest harvest Species (33% of License holders (40% of License holders (33% of License holders responded responded to survey) responded to survey) to survey) Buffalo 1,429,700 1,179,800 1,500,000 Channel and Blue Catfish 714,900 615,400 636,000 Flathead Catfish 225,100 238,800 153,000. Common Carp 119,200 162,100 210,000 Asian Carp 568,700 179,600 240,000 Freshwater Drum 55,400 49,600 33,000 Gar 71,300 43,000 42, 000 Total 3,184,300 2,468,300 2,814,000

Gear effort (Table 14) in 2010 was very similar to that in 2008 and 2009, except that the percentage of fishers fishing trotlines dropped from 31% in 2008 to 13% in 2009 and rose back to 25% in 2010. Also, slat box effort, as average days fished, has been variable over the past three years; 76 days in 2008, 30 days in 2009 and 43 days in 2010.

Table 14. Fishing gear effort by respondents to the commercial fishing survey for CY2010 (249 respondents – 33% of license holders) Avg. # days fished in a yr. Avg. # gear by persons fished per day who fished by persons who Number of persons that gear fished that gear Gear who fished gear (% ) (range) (range) Gill net 52 (21%) 76 4.4 nets (range) (1-365) (1-18) Hoop nets 92 (37%) 56 6.5 nets (1-360) (1-25) Slat Boxes 27(11%) 43 2.4 boxes (2-300) (1-8) Trotlines 63 (25%) 75 4.2 lines (1-250) (1-15) No fish 70 (28%) harvested Other gears reported fished – rod & reel, jugs and drop lines.

Table 15 provides data on why individuals purchased a freshwater commercial fishing license. State laws and regulations require a freshwater commercial fishing license to engage in several harvest and sale activities involving nongame gross fish.

Table 15. Response to Survey Questions on Why a Person Purchased a Freshwater Commercial Fishing License to Fish During CY2010. There were 249 respondents to the 2010 survey and respondents could list “yes” to multiple questions. QUESTION NUMBER RESPONDENTS Persons who did not respond to questions 34 (14%)

1.I run commercial gear to harvest fish for personal or family use Number who answered only Question #1 120 (48%) Total Number who answered Question #1 172 (69%) 2. In past year I sold nongame gross fish (includes those that listed responses to Questions 3,4,&5) 103 (41%) 3. I have a license as a helper to assist another licensed person 25 (10%) 4. I own or manage a fish market or fish house 13 (5%) 5. I peddle, trade or barter fish to customers on a local route or circuit. 30 (12%) 6. I am a wholesale minnow dealer. 3 (1%) 7. I sell minnows caught from public waters. 0 8. I have a permit to raise nongame wildlife for sale. 2 (1%) 9. I have a permit to harvest common snapping turtles 4 (1.6%)

Similar data on reasons people purchased freshwater commercial fishing licenses were collected during the sale of license sold during FY2003 to FY2007 (Table 16). During those years persons purchasing commercial fishing license were asked a series of questions to determine why they purchased this license. The questions were a facet of the POS system for license sales and were asked at the time the person purchased their license. See Lucas (2009) for a discussion of these data.

Table 16. Comparison of POS collected data for FY2003-FY2007 with CY2008 -CY2010 survey data. Percentage response to question Question CY CY CY FY FY FY FY 2010 2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 I catch fish for personal use& I do not sell catch 48 52 59 44 34 39 41 I buy and/or sell fish for fish markets or fish houses 13 17 17 12 12 17 17 I am a wholesale minnow dealer 1 2 1 0.5 3 3 2 I sell minnows caught from public waters 0 0 0 1 4 2 2 I raise nongame wildlife for sale 1 1 1 3 7 4 1

Table 17. Responses to “Comments or suggestions concerning ways to improve activities associated with a commercial fishing license” as part of the Commercial Harvest Survey Form (N=121). Table 17. Respondents comments on regulation CY 2010 CY2009 changes Gear Changes Hoop nets – change mesh to allow 1-2” 9 4 Allow Gill net mesh size– 3 ½” statewide or 3”. 7 2 Reduce cost to fish slat boxes 5 0 Slat boxes – lower opening to 1 1/4 ” or 1” 0 3 Change restrictive gear seasons in Pascagoula 0 4 Open additional waters to commercial fishing gear; 1 2 Establish a recreational slat box license 1 2 Allow the use of crawfish traps 1 0 Set Hoop net season as Jan –May & Oct - Dec 1 0 Allow Commercial trotlines, or lead for gill net to 0 1 be set all the way across a stream Need for tags to expire on June 30 1 1 Allow gar nets with mesh of No.9 or larger twine 1 2 Allow Commercial fishers to have pole in boat 1 1 More Stop people from stealing gear or running others 7 4 enforcement gear 5 0 Need more Conservation Officers 0 2 Stop illegal fishing, in the Pearl River Approve of not requiring helper to have Commercial fishing license. 4 6 Regulations OK 4 3 Match regulations of border state on border 2 0 waters; remove tag requirement on Louisiana border Allow driving of fish 1 0 Allow harvest of turtles 1 0 Allow non-resident to fish border waters 1 0 Do not allow dumping of offal 1 0 Need less regulations 0 2 Conservation Officers think commercial fishermen 1 1 are all outlaws Need better communication on commercial fishing 2 1 regulations Change length Remove the 1 catfish over 34” rule 2 6 limit or season Change creel on 1 catfish over 34” rule to 2 over 0 2 34” 1 4 Change restrictive gear seasons in Pascagoula R. 1 0 Set Hoop net season as Jan –May & Oct – Dec 1 1 Turtle – 11” Alligator Snapper creel limit of 2 1 Change Flathead Catfish minimum length to 20” 1 Change Buffalo minimum length to 18” 1 Fines Reduce fines and penalties 0 2 Hand Grabbling Either stop it or require commercial fishing 2 2

Table 18. Respondents comments on Fishery Enhancement CY2010 CY2009 Items Access Clean off boat ramps, e.g Big Black 4 1 More boat ramps – in Wilkerson Co., Grand Gulf (Hi water), 1 8 Lost Quarters, Fosters lake, Chickasawhay & Leaf Rivers Open, or allow access to, bayous and lakes to public fishing 1 3 Fish Reduce stock of big catfish so little catfish can grow 1 Enhancement Buffalo & Drum need reduction - Pearl River 1 Harvest alligators – Pearl River 1 1 Find a way to use or market buffalo that are caught 1 Stocking Stock “white catfish” in Enid Res., stock Flathead Catfish in 3 3 the Tenn-Tom Waterway Stock grass carp in Pickwick Lake to control weeds 0 1 Asian Carp Get rid of Asian Carp 0 6 Develop markets for Asian Carp 5 1 Stock grass carp in Pickwick Lake to control weeds 0 1 River Stop U.S. Army Engineers from building Rock Dikes 2 4 Management Regulate releases of Ross Barnett Reservoir 0 2 Dredge out Rivers to improve navigation 2 1 Dams Fix spillway at Lake Mary 0 1 Need structure in Old River on Yazoo River 0 1 Pollution Reduce pollution 0 2 Reduce trash, and hot water heaters, etc., or require boaters to have litter bags in boats 0 3 Licenses Need more places to get licenses / easier to get license 2 1 Need better quality of paper to print license on 0 1 Establish recreational commercial.license. / Establish a non- 1 1 commercial net license for a person to fish up to 5 nets to catch fish for personal consumption Fishery Promote commercial fishery 1 0 Enhancement Need information on how to fish 1 0

Survey participants were also asked “how many people you serve?”. The responses from the 74 fishers who commented on this question are presented in Table 19.

Table 19-. “How many people do you serve?” Number people Survey Sum of people Respondents 0 4 3 1 3 5 7 35 10 8 80 12 4 48 15 2 30 20 9 180 30 4 120 40 1 40 50 3 150 250 2 500 FAMILIES 1 3 91 2-3 (mine & related 12 94 families) 4 3 38 10 1 31 12 1 38

CHURCH SOCIALS 8 2002 CHURCH SOUP 1 30 KITCHEN

Sum of respondents and 74 1,626 Number people served 1The average family size for Mississippi based on 2000 census is 3.14 persons. 2The number of people served at church socials was set at 25

The average number of people served by commercial licensed fishers that harvested fish was 21 per fisher (1,626/74).

LITERATURE CITED

Barr, William and Thomas McDonough. 1976. Recovery of marked Fish in Cove Rotenone Samples. Pages 230 – 233 in Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Bettoli, P.W. and G.D. Scholten. 2006. Bycatch rates and initial mortality of Paddlefish in a commercial gillnet fishery. Fisheries Research 77: 343-347.

Lucas, Garry. 2009. Mississippi Freshwater Commercial Fishery and Paddlefish Commercial Fishery During Fiscal Year 2009. Freshwater Fishery Report No. 259 (MS 413). MDWFP, Jackson, MS

Lucas, Garry. 2012. Mississippi Freshwater Commercial Fishery and Paddlefish Commercial Fishery During for Fiscal Year 2010. Freshwater Fishery Report No. 269 (MS 424). MDWFP, Jackson, MS

MS Dept. Health, 2011. Mississippi Demographic Profile, Accessed July 25 2010. http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/29,1798,184,313,pdf/Demographic%20Profile.pdf

MDWFP, 2011. Inland Commercial Fishing Management Plan, April 2010. MDWFP, Jackson MS

US Fish & Wildlife Service. 2009. Cyber Salmon: Estimating Fish Populations. Accessed 24 February 2009. http://cybersalmon.fws.gov/tag1.htm. Laurel Devaney, Fairbanks Fish & Wildlife Field Office, 101 12th Ave., Room 110 Fairbanks, AK 99701.

APPENDICES

Appendix A Public Notice F3a-3798; Paddlefish Harvest 2010-2011 Season

MDWFP Fisheries Bureau

GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL HARVEST OF PADDLEFISH

IN MISSISSIPPI

For the

2010-2011 Season

WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FORMS

Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries & Parks

Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

11/1/2010

MDWFP Fisheries Bureau

GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL HARVEST OF PADDLEFISH

IN MISSISSIPPI

For the

2010-2011 Season

WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FORMS

Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries & Parks

47 Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

The purpose of this document is a guide to persons, with paddlefish permits in the harvesting, possessing, selling, buying and distribution of paddlefish and paddlefish parts. Please note that this manual is a guide: The official regulations concerning paddlefish harvest can be found in Public Notice F3a-3798.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paddlefish Harvest Regulations ...... 3

Sale Transaction Form...... 4

Disposition ...... 6

How to Check for Eggs ...... 7

List of Waters in MS River Zone open to Harvest 2010-2011 ...... 8

List of Destinations for Paddlefish Eggs and Flesh……………………………………………………………8

Processor Report Form ...... 9

Appendices:

Sale Transaction Form

Processors Report Forms

Maps and pictures of open waters for Mississippi Delta Zone and Sunflower River Zone

48 Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

Paddlefish Harvest: A person with a valid Paddlefish Harvester Permit is allowed to harvest (take) paddlefish caught in legal commercial fishing gear for sale of flesh or roe. The Harvester must sell the roe and document paddlefish catch to persons possessing a Mississippi Paddlefish Buyer/Exporter Permit or Paddlefish Processor Permit. Harvest Restrictions

Waters open to paddlefish harvest during the 2009-2010 paddlefish roe season:

o Border waters with Arkansas – see list of waters on Page 8; . Season -Dec. 1 to Mar. 31 (Note: Ark. Waters open Nov.20 to Apr.10) o All of Tunica and Quitman Counties and portion of Tallahatchie County north of State Route 32; . Season - Jan. 1 to Feb.28 o Waters of Sharkey County north of MS Highway 16 and the Sunflower River along the Washington-Humphreys County Line; . Season - Jan. 1 to Feb.28. o Waters of Bear Creek in Sunflower, Humphrey and Leflore Counties south of Macon Road to Wasp Lake Structure; . Season Dec. 1 to Jan.28 o Moon Lake, in Coahoma County, . Mon-Fri, 1st week in Dec. and 1st week in Feb. (nets can be set on Sunday)

The minimum length that a paddlefish can be retained is 37 inches as measured from front of eye to fork in the tail on a flat board. Thirty four inches (34”) is the minimum length for Arkansas waters and Mississippi regulations permit Mississippi Paddlefish Harvester permit holders to harvest fish the same length as that of adjacent state on border waters

Paddlefish that are kept must be tagged, immediately, with a Department issued serial tag that will be attached to the dorsal fin. The tag will remain on the fish until flesh is packaged for retail sale or final retail sale to the consumer is made.

Paddlefish shall remain whole after capture and eggs shall remain entirely within the body cavity of the fish while the fish is on the water and until the fish reach a Mississippi Paddlefish Buyer/Exporter or Mississippi Paddlefish Processor. Note: A 12-gauge needle inserted into the side of a paddlefish adjacent to the ovaries may be used to determine the presence of eggs (A Meat or flavor injector can be used for this purpose). See page 7. The snout forward of the eye and the tail past the fork may be removed to make it easier to transport harvested paddlefish (Note: This does NOT permit blocking ), and the gill rakers inside mouth can be cut to bleed fish.

a) Paddlefish, including the screening of the roe shall be processed at a facility that complies with state and federal regulations.

49 Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

b) Nonresidents fishing in reciprocal waters who are properly licensed by the border state to take paddlefish can take and/or transport paddlefish to their state of residency, but while in Mississippi the paddlefish shall remain whole, there shall be no cuts or mutilation and eggs shall remain entirely within the body cavity of the fish.

Sale of Paddlefish and Paddlefish Parts: Any paddlefish harvested from Mississippi waters must be documented by a person with either a Mississippi Paddlefish Buyer/Exporter Permit or Mississippi Paddlefish Processor Permit for that fish to be further processed or possessed. To be permitted to buy or possess paddlefish eggs or roe in Mississippi, or to export paddlefish flesh or roe across state line a person must have either a Mississippi Paddlefish Buyer/Exporter Permit or Mississippi Paddlefish Processor Permit.

PADDLEFISH SALE TRANSACTION FORM: The Sale Transaction Form is used to document the harvest and disposition of paddlefish and paddlefish products.

When filling out forms Please print legibly (except for signatures).

IF YOU DID NOT HARVEST PADDLEFISH

Persons having a Paddlefish Harvester Permit are required to submit to MDWFP at least one Sale Transaction Form each month from December through April, even if you did not harvest any paddlefish.

If you did not harvest any paddlefish during a month:

1. Check the box next to “I DID NOT HARVEST ANY PADDLEFISH DURING:” and record the month on report in the space provided.

2. Sign your form in the box on the bottom of the form.

3. Send the original copy of the form to MDWFP by the 15th of the month following the month being reported.

IF YOU HARVESTED PADDLEFISH

When you harvest paddlefish, a separate Sale Transaction Form must be submitted for each day that you harvested fish. Be sure to list the page number and total number of pages completed for the date in the spaces provided on the top right hand corner of the page.

The Sale Transaction Form must be completed at the time of transaction/documentation and the Buyer must fax or e-mail a completed copy of the form(s) to MDWFP within 24 hours. (For this instruction manual Buyer shall refer to persons with either a Paddlefish Buyer/Exporter Permit or Paddlefish Processor Permit) Fax Number – 662-748-2296 or 601-432-2203

50 Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

e-mail address [email protected]

TO FILL OUT THE SALE TRANSACTION FORM:

Please PRINT the Harvester’s name and the Buyer’s name in the appropriate boxes. Then record date of HARVEST and body of water fished (If you were fishing a lake list the lake name> if fishing a river list the river and ramp from which access was obtained; see example for Mississippi River Zone provided in Table 1). Record the number of paddlefish you caught then released, and the NUMBER of nets fished. If gear other then gill or trammel nets were used please write in what other gear was used. And, upon delivering your paddlefish to the Buyer, immediately record the date and time in the space provided.

Record for each paddlefish harvested –

 the tag number,

 the Eye to Fork length (length from front of eye to fork in tail) in inches on a flat board,

The next items DO NOT have to be recorded on the copy of the form retained by the Harvester:

 the fish’s sex,

 the weight (in ounces) of eggs, if present. If a female paddlefish is harvested that has no eggs list “0” in the raw egg wt box.

 The weight of screened eggs . This value does not have to be recorded for each individual fish. The eggs from several paddlefish from the same Sale Transaction can be screened together. A blank line in a Sale Transaction Form except for an entry in the “ weight of screened eggs” box will be the weight of screened eggs for those paddlefish listed above that line to the last “weight of screened eggs” entry.

 Destination of eggs. (See Table 2 for suggestions for entry)

 Destination of flesh .

If more than 8 paddlefish were harvested in one day, use the “Paddlefish Sale Transaction Form- extra pages” form to record information on harvested fish. If the additional forms are required complete the top section (Print - Name of Harvester, Name of Buyer, and date and time paddlefish were delivered to buyer) and the information for the fish. List a page number for each new page.

Note: A Sale Transaction Form MUST ACCOMPANY any bulk container of eggs, raw or screened, identifying those eggs to tagged fish(es) from which they were collected. Buyers are at liberty to limit the number of fish on the form to meet this criteria.

Both the Harvester and the Buyer must sign the form certifying accurate information was recorded. If you have multiple pages for a transaction, each page of the report must be signed and attach them to the original for that day.

51 Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

Within 24 hours of receipt, the Buyer must fax or e-mail the Sale Transaction Form(s) to MDWFP. The Sale Transaction Form(s) sent to MDWFP must include fish sex, raw egg weight, screened egg weight, flesh destination and roe destination.

DISPOSITION

After harvested paddlefish have been documented by a Buyer, documented paddlefish flesh can be retained by either the Harvester or Buyer for sale or disposal. The primary identifier of a documented paddlefish will be the tag that will remain in the dorsal fin till final sale to the consumer. It is suggested that a copy of the Sale Transaction Form, signed by both Harvester and Buyer, also accompany any paddlefish flesh to verify that paddlefish have been documented. After documentation, either blocked or packaged paddlefish flesh can be sold to anyone licensed to handle nongame rough fish, restaurants, grocery stores, wholesale food distributors or consumers.

Remember, only persons with Buyer/Exporter Permit or Processor Permit can retain paddlefish roe that has not been purchased by the consumer as a retail product.

If paddlefish parts have to be disposed, it should be done in an approved sub-title D sanitary landfill. An attached Appendix has a list of approved landfills.

IF PADDLEFISH ARE IMPORTED INTO MISISSIPPI

By Mississippi Regulations all commercially caught paddlefish have to be tagged. As such the regulations DO NOT permit non-resident harvesters to possess or sell whole paddlefish in Mississippi. There is no restriction on the importation of documented paddlefish roe or processed and packaged paddlefish flesh.

A Sale Transaction Form must be completed for the purchase of all paddlefish products including imported products. (Note: Paddlefish caught in border waters by MS Paddlefish Harvesters are NOT considered to be imported fish) If a buyer receives paddlefish products that were harvested out-of-state and then imported into Mississippi by a non-resident the buyer is responsible for completing a Sale Transaction Form for that import, and submitting the Form by fax or e-mail within 24 hours. PRIOR TO ENTERING MISSISSIPPI,THE IMPORTER MUST ALREADY HAVE PAPERWORK IN POSSESSION IDENTIFYING THE PRODUCTS AS BEING HARVESTED FROM ANOTHER STATE, AND COPIES OF THAT PAPERWORK SHOULD BE RETAINED BY THE BUYER TO IDENTIFY THOSE EGGS.

When reporting imported paddlefish products (roe):

1. List Date, list “seller’s” name in box labeled “Harvesters Name”, list Buyers name, and list date and time product received. 2. List in the box labeled “Harvest Location", first, the STATE from which harvest took place, then below the state entry, list the body of water from which the fish were harvested. 3. List as much information as practical concerning the product purchased; i.e. weight of eggs as to raw or processed. 4. The importer should sign the Form and record their out-of-state license number in the second box on the bottom of the form. 5. The buyer must sign the Form.

52 Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

The yellow copy of the Sale Transaction Form is to be retained by the Harvester and the white copy is to be retained by the Buyer receiving the product. A fourth copy is available to be kept with container of eggs. The original light blue Sale Transaction Form(s) must be sent by the Harvester to the Mississippi Dept. Wildlife Fisheries & Parks by the 15th of each month to the following address: Fisheries Bureau – Paddlefish Report MDWFP 1505 Eastover Dr. Jackson, MS 39211-6374

Additional forms may be obtained from the MDWFP by notifying the Fisheries Bureau by telephone at (601) 432-2200. Please allow two weeks to get the new forms.

Only legible, fully completed reports as instructed will legally satisfy the harvest report requirements.

UNUSED TAGS

At the end of the season any unused paddlefish tags must be returned to MDWFP, or inventoried for use during the next season. Tags may be shipped to the above address.

Using a Meat/Flavor Injector to test for presence of paddlefish eggs. (Picture on left from Arkansas Game & Fish Commission)

Table 1. List of bodies of water in Mississippi available for paddlefish harvest in the Mississippi River zone during the 2010-2011 season

Rivers Mississippi – Mhoon Landing Mississippi – Star landing

53 Appendix B Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

Mississippi – Helena Lakes

Mississippi – Delta Landing (Friars Point) Horn/ Lakeview

Mississippi – Quapaw Landing (Is63) Council lake

Mississippi – Hill House (Desoto L.) Tunica Cutoff

Mississippi – Dennis Landing Flower Lake

Mississippi – Rosedale Port Stoval Old River

Mississippi – Lake Whittington Mellwood Lake

Mississippi – Ark. City DeSoto Lake

Mississippi – Greenville (L. Ferguson) Lake Beulah

Mississippi – HWY 82 Bridge Lake Whittington

Mississippi – Lake Lee Lake Ferguson

Lake Lee

Bar-pit Lakes

“private access” back water lakes

Table 2. List of Destinations for Paddlefish Eggs and Flesh Eggs Flesh

List Name of Wholesaler Retained by Harvester

List Name of Dealer Disposed (landfill)

To be Processed (Processor Permit) List Name of Wholesaler

Storage List Name of Fish Market

Disposed (spoiled) Storage

54 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

PROCESSOR REPORT

Paddlefish roe can be packaged as a retail product. Persons with Paddlefish Processor Permit are required to process 40 % of the roe they purchase from Mississippi Paddlefish Harvesters as a product packaged for retail sale. The packaged product must have a label that lists the product as Paddlefish roe or caviar and the label must state “Product of Mississippi, USA”. The label should also have other items normally found on product labels; product name, company name, address.

There are two report forms. One is for bulk sales where the retail items are sold to a wholesaler or distributor for resale. The individual sales report is to document volume of sale to individuals, either by mail order or from a location (ie. store).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE PADDLEFISH PROCESSOR REPORT

The Paddlefish Processor Report is submitted monthly if you have a Mississippi Paddlefish Processor Permit, even if you did not process any roe into a retail product. If you have any questions about how to report call the Fisheries Bureau at 601-432- 2200.

Before writing on this form, put something between the first set and the remainder of the booklet to prevent your report from transferring through to more than one form. Remember to press firmly to insure that your report is transferring through to the copy.

a. Write your name in the box labeled “Processor”. b. Write the month and year that this report is for on the lines titled “Month” and “Year.”

If you did not Process any roe as a retail product during a month:

1. Check the box next to " I did not process any Paddlefish eggs as a retail product during " on the top of the form.

2. Sign your name, in the box on the bottom of the report.

3. Send the original to MDWFP as instructed and retain the copy for your records.

If you Packaged paddlefish roe for retail sale:

For bulk sales Follow the instructions below for each transaction:

1. Record the name and address of the vendor the product was shipped to and the date the product was shipped.

55 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

2. Record the number of packaged products shipped by size and type.  Molossol is listed for the first row, paste on the second row. The third row has no heading for the processor to list other type of product (i.e. pasteurized, pickled, or salted (for preservation)  A column for the size has been left blank for the processor to list other size that roe was packaged as.

3. If the additional pages are required, complete the top section (Print - Name of Processor, Month, and Year) and List a page number for each new page. Use as many pages as necessary. Be sure to list the page number and total number of pages completed for the month in the space provided on the top right hand corner of the report.

4. Sign your name, in the box on the bottom of the report.

5. Send the original to MDWFP as instructed and retain the copy for your records.

For individual sales only monthly total of products sent or sold to individuals need to be recorded.

1. For Mail Order Sales - Record the names of the persons the product was shipped to along with their State residence.

2. Record the total number of packaged products shipped by size and type for that month.  Record of transaction per individual is not needed.

3. For Store Sales – Record name and location of store.

4. Record the total number of packaged products shipped by size and type for that month. List these in columns below solid line.

5. Sign your name, in the box on the bottom of the report.

6. Send the original to MDWFP as instructed and retain the copy for your records.

This report must be submitted to MDWFP by the 15th of the month following the month which is being reported. Send completed reports to: Fisheries Bureau – Paddlefish Report MDWFP 1505 Eastover Dr. Jackson, MS 39211-6374

56 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

MISSISSIPPI DELTA PADDLEFISH HARVEST ZONE

Season: Dec 1, 2010 to Feb. 15, 2011

Min. length = 37” EFL

MISSISSIPPI DELTA PADDLEFISH HARVEST ZONE

 Upstream end of Panola- Quitman Floodway will be junction with Yocona River.  Upstream end of Bobo Bayou will be State Route 6  Upstream end of Coldwater River will be where ditch that runs along Tunica- DeSoto County line enters Coldwater River

57 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

MISSISSIPPI DELTA PADDLEFISH HARVEST ZONE

Jct. of ditch along Tunica/DeSoto line with Coldwater River

MISSISSIPPI DELTA PADDLEFISH HARVEST ZONE

About 1 mile downstream of canal jct. Rip-rap, with I-beams & irrigation intake

58 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

SUNFLOWER RIVER PADDLEFISH HARVEST ZONE

Season: Jan 1, to Feb.28, 2011

Min. length = 37” EFL

59 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

SUNFLOWER RIVER PADDLEFISH HARVEST ZONE

 Portion of Sharkey Brumfield County above Route Landing 16

 Sunflower River that is border Humphrey’s & Washington Counties Upstream end  Can access zone via of harvest zone Brumfield Landing

SUNFLOWER RIVER PADDLEFISH HARVEST ZONE

These poles are about 3 ½ miles downstream from the Brumfield Landing Boat Ramp and mark upstream end of open paddlefish harvest zone

60 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

Page : 1 of .

PADDLEFISH SALE TRANSACTION FORM

I did not harvest any Paddlefish during : (list month and year).

Harvest’s Name Harvest Date Number of Paddlefish Released Gear: record the number of sets you used Less than more than less legal size next to the appropriate gear type legal Size legal size with eggs

Buyer’s Name Harvest Location Date and time product received Gill Nets

Trammel Nets

Other

Record tag number , length (inches)of fish harvested, sex of fish , weight of roe(oz.), and destination of catch. Tag Number EF length Sex Raw egg wt Screened egg wt Egg Destination Flesh Destination

I certify that this is a true and accurate record of my transaction with this I certify that this is a true and accurate record of my harvest and transaction permitted paddlefish harvester. information

Buyer’s Signature Permit # Harvester’s Signature Permit Number

61 Appendix B -Guide to the Commercial Harvest of Paddlefish in Mississippi for the 2010-2011 Season

PADDLEFISH PROCESSOR REPORT FORM Bulk Sales Report Page : 1 of_____

Processor Month Year

I did not process any Paddlefish eggs as a retail product during : ______list month and year Destination of Retail Product Number of Containers Vendor Vendor address Date 1oz 2oz 4oz 8oz 16oz 32oz 1kg Type molosol Paste

molosol Paste

molosol Paste I certify that this is a true and accurate record of my transaction of retail paddlefish products.

62 APPENDIX C -GUIDE TO SUMMER HARVEST OF PADDLEFISH

Paddlefish Summer Harvest 2011 Thank you for participating in Mississippi’s summer fishery for paddlefish

During the months of May thru August, a person possessing a valid commercial fishing license and paddlefish tags can harvest five paddlefish per day. Paddlefish desired to be kept must have a MDWFP issued tag attached at time of possession. Any size paddlefish from almost any waters open to commercial fishing can be harvested during this period. Waters that are not open to summer harvest of paddlefish – Tennessee River, Tombigbee River (including Tenn-Tom Waterway), and Pascagoula River including all waters, rivers and streams within the watersheds of these three rivers.

Many paddlefish caught in nets during the warm months of the year do not survive. The summer paddlefish fishery was established for fishers to utilize this wasted resource. A tagging and reporting system was established with this program to get data on Mississippi’s paddlefish stocks. These data are needed to determine if Mississippi can maintain a summer paddlefish fishery. Paddlefish populations are prone to over-fishing from the advanced age required for this fish to reach maturity, and the infrequency in spawning. Paddlefish stocks are now highly regulated due to the high demand for their roe for the caviar trade.

Tags for paddlefish harvest can be ordered from the MDWFP Jackson office. A form for ordering tags can be downloaded from the MDWFP Commercial Fishery webpage, home.mdwfp.com/Fisheries/Commercial.aspx, or one can call 601-432-2200 to order tags, or have an order form mailed. Tags are sold in bundles of 20 plastic tags. The cost for a bundle of 20 tags will be $5.29. MDWFP had to limit the number of tags the Department procured, and there were not enough to distribute tags to the District Offices or State Park Offices. MDWFP apologizes for this inconvenience in not having these tags available at all locations where commercial fishing licenses are sold.

To tag a paddlefish, insert the tag through a slit made in the flesh below the dorsal fin.

A person who purchases Paddlefish Summer Tags will be given form(s) to record their harvest of paddlefish. A self-addressed envelope will be included to return the completed forms to MDWFP by September 15, 2011.

63 APPENDIX C -GUIDE TO SUMMER HARVEST OF PADDLEFISH How To Fill Out The Summer Paddlefish Harvest Forms

1. Each Tag bundle will have a harvest report form, paddlefish transaction form, and a self-addressed letter to send in the harvest report form (due by September 15). Paddlefish Harvest Report Form: 2. Fill in the blocks for your Name and Year that the report form covers. 3. Fill in information for each date of the month that you harvest a paddlefish – List date block on top row as month/date/year (ex. 5/3/11). 4. For harvested paddlefish – please list Eye-Fork Length (to nearest inch) AND tag number. Eye-Fork length (EFL) is the length from eye to anterior curvature in tail. A 4 foot ruler or a seamstress tape could be used. You can keep (harvest) up to 5 paddlefish per day, and there are 5 boxes to record the requested information for any given day. If you choose to only keep one paddlefish per day there are 20 columns, 10 front and back, to record harvest by each date a paddlefish was caught. ONCE YOU DECIDE TO KEEP A PADDLEFISH, A TAG MUST BE INSERTED AT THAT TIME AND MUST REMAIN UNTIL THE FISH IS CONSUMED OR “PACKAGED FOR RETAIL SALE”. During the summer a paddlefish can be blocked but the tag has to remain on the blocked- out fish. The reporting of the harvest from multiple 20-tag bundles can be combined on a form for up to 20 days of harvest. 5. For released fish, either alive or dead; list numbers of paddlefish, by select lengths. Many commercial paddlefish fishers place marks on their boat to note a specific length of a fish. 6. List what gear was fished to capture paddlefish in the blocks by date. 7. For location; list the locations you fished in the “Location” block. 8. Sign the form on the back when you get ready to send it in

Paddlefish Transaction Form ( these are printed with 4 Transaction Forms per page): This form is to be used if you sell your paddlefish to a fish market, etc. The purpose of the form is to provide documentation in the market that the fish was legally harvested. 1. Print your name in the block at top and the date the paddlefish were SOLD 2. Record the name of the person taking possession of the paddlefish and the business name if applicable. 3. Record the tag number on the fish that was sold and list the length of the fish as recorded on your harvest record (do not list blocked-out length) 4. Sign the form, then cut out a copy of the form to leave with the market.

If you need harvest forms they can be downloaded from the MDWFP Commercial Fishery webpage, home.mdwfp.com/Fisheries/Commercial.aspx, or one can call 601- 432-2200 to have forms mailed to you.

Thank you for your cooperation and if you have any questions or experience problems feel free to contact Garry Lucas in the Fisheries Bureau at 601-432-2200, Email; [email protected]

SEND COMPLETED FORMS TO:

MDWFP Fisheries Bureau, Paddlefish Harvest Survey 1505 Eastover Dr. Jackson Mississippi 39211-6374

Forms must be received by September 15, 2011

64 APPENDIX C -GUIDE TO SUMMER HARVEST OF PADDLEFISH MDWFP - PADDLEFISH SUMMER HARVEST REPORT

DATE (write in)

PADDLEFISH Tag # EFL Tag # EFL Tag # EFL Tag # EFL Tag # EFL Tag # EFL Tag # EFL Tag # EFL

Harvested

Released Alive Less than 32”EFL

32”-37”EFL

Greater than 37”

Released Dead Less than 32”EFL

32”-37”EFL

Greater than 37”

Other (list)

Fisherperson’s Name Year

65 APPENDIX C -GUIDE TO SUMMER HARVEST OF PADDLEFISH MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT WILDLIFE FISHERIES & PARKS

PADDLEFISH SUMMER HARVEST REPORT

Fisher’s Name ______Month______Year______

Date (write in) Gill Net # nets

Yards

Trammel # nets

Yards

Hoop net # nets Trot line # sets

# hooks

Other (list)

Location

I certify that this is a true and accurate record of my harvest

Harvester’s Signature

66 APPENDIX C GUIDE TO SUMMER HARVEST OF PADDLEFISH

PADDLEFISH TRANSACTION FORM For Summer Harvest Period

Harvester’s Name Transaction Date

Flesh Destination

Person Business

Record tag number and length of fish Tag Number EF length Tag Number EF length

I certify that this is a true and accurate record of my transaction

Harvester’s Signature

The form sent to the purchaser of Paddlefish Summer Tags had on each page 4 Paddlefish Transaction Forms, like that above.

67 Appendix D Freshwater Commercial Fishing Report Requirements

Commercial Fishing Report Requirements

2010 Season

Greetings, Commercial Fishing License Holder,

During the 2008 session the Mississippi Legislature adopted a law that requires persons with Commercial Fishing Licenses to report their harvest and activities (Statute 49-7-90). This is the third year that the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has collected information on harvest and utilization of Mississippi nongame gross fish. As such, MDWFP now has a better understanding of the people who harvest nongame gross fish, while at the same time gaining information on the importance of the state’s inland commercial fishery . All commercial fishing license holders must complete and submit the enclosed Survey and Harvest Report Forms. The survey and harvest report must be submitted by February 21, 2011. If you harvest nongame gross fish (rough fish) using commercial fishing gear either for your personal use or for sale you must complete and submit a Harvest Report Form. See the back for a summary of last year’s survey.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO COMMERCIAL FISHING REGULATIONS

Within the next several months the Fisheries Bureau would like to review the regulations governing commercial fishing activity and present changes to the Wildlife Commission for consideration. Several commercial fishing items the Bureau would like to consider: o Establish regulations that penalize persons tampering with someone else’s gear. o Establish regulations that permit “driving fish” into nets, and allow use of seines. o Modify gear language to permit use of crawfish traps. o Modify regulations on border waters to be consistent with that of border state. o Consider changes to regulations to assist in marketing commercial fish products. In this process the Fisheries Bureau will try to respond to comments presented by past harvest survey respondents in establishing regulations. To view progress on proposing regulation changes please visit the MDWFP Commercial Fishing webpage at http://home.mdwfp.com/Fisheries/Commercial.aspx. You are welcome to make suggestions and comments: Contact our Commercial Fishery Biologist at [email protected].

PADDLEFISH FISHING If you are interested in harvesting paddlefish or bowfin for its roe, special permits are needed. Harvest permits are no longer available for this winter season .Applications for commercial

68 Appendix D Freshwater Commercial Fishing Report Requirements

paddlefish roe permits will be available from October 1 through October 15, 2011 for the 2011-2012 roe season. Applications can be submitted anywhere that hunting/fishing licenses are sold. Permit fees this winter were $750 for a permit to harvest paddlefish and , $1,000 to $3,000 to purchase/process flesh and/or eggs.

PADDLEFISH CAN BE TAKEN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS

During the months of May, June, July, and August, persons having a commercial fishing license can take 5 paddlefish, per day. Although no special permits will be needed for this summer harvest of paddlefish, the harvested fish will have to be tagged, and the tags need to be purchased prior to possession of paddlefish.

For more information on paddlefish fishing visit the MDWFP Commercial Fishing webpage.

COMMERCIAL FISHING SURVEY RESULTS FOR 2008 and 2009 Over 2 ½ million pounds of nongame gross fish and nonnative fish were estimated as being harvested in 2008 by persons with commercial fishing licenses. A refinement in computing the harvest estimate by stratifying fishers by years of participation in the fishery presented an estimate for 2009 of 1.9 million pounds. Buffalo fish led the harvest at 1½ million pounds in 2008 and at 850,000 pounds in 2009. Commercial fishers in 2008 harvested 636,000 pounds of blue and channel catfish, and 153,000 pounds of flathead catfish. For 2009 there was 121,000 pounds less blues and channels; but 85,000 pounds more flatheads.. Carp were prominent in the 2008 harvest with 210,000 pounds of common carp and 240,000 pounds of Asian carp, but the estimates were 87,000 and 105,000 pounds, respectively for 2009.. Also harvested were 38,700-42,000 pounds of gar, 33,000-38,700 pounds of freshwater drum, along with eel, bowfin, shad, bullheads and minnows. Thirty six percent of the commercial fishers used hoop nets, while 31% fished trotlines. Gill nets and trammel nets were fished by 20% of the commercial fishers, while 8% fished slat boxes. A substantial portion of the licensed participants are not relying on fishing as a significant source of income, with 53% not seeking any monetary compensation.. The leading reason fishers stated why commercial fishing was important to them was enjoyment, to get food for family and friends, income, and a way of life. The fishery is dynamic as recently there has been 50% turnover in participation, yet new participants in the commercial fishery have kept annual participation between 660-720 people.

FOR MORE INFORMATION If you want more information about commercial fishing regulations and laws, paddlefish applications and permits, or any reporting requirements please visit the Departments website on commercial fishing at http://home.mdwfp.com/Fisheries/Commercial.aspx Or, you can call the MDWFP, Fisheries Bureau at 601-432-2200.

69 Appendix D Freshwater Commercial Fishing Report Requirements

Commercial Fishing Survey 2010 Season During the 2008 session the Mississippi Legislature adopted a law that requires persons with Commercial Fishing Licenses to report their harvest and activities (Statute 49-7-90). The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks would like to use the opportunity to develop a better understanding of people who harvest nongame gross fish, while at the same time gaining information that shows the importance of the state’s inland commercial fishery. Below is a survey for commercial fishing license holders to complete and submit to identify the reason they are purchasing a commercial fishing license.

Name (please print):______

Address (please print):______

Date of Birth (please print):______

Date of Birth information is only used by MDWFP to locate specific individuals in our license database.

If you harvest nongame gross fish (rough fish) using commercial fishing gear either for personal use, or to sell, you must complete and submit a Harvest Report Form

Please circle either “YES” or “NO” FOR EACH QUESTION

1. I use my license to run commercial fishing gear to harvest fish for personal or family use Includes getting fish for church or social functions, YES NO

2. In past year I sold nongame gross fish YES NO

3. I have a license as a helper to assist another licensed person(s) in their fishing operation. YES NO

4. I own or manage a fish market(s) or fish house(s) . YES NO

5. I peddle, trade or barter fish to customers on a local route or circuit. YES NO

6. I am a wholesale minnow dealer. YES NO

7. I sell minnows caught from public waters. YES NO

8. I have a permit to raise nongame wildlife for sale. YES NO

9. I have a permit to harvest common snapping turtles YES NO

70 Appendix D Freshwater Commercial Fishing Report Requirements