Living Resources Within the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program Study Area
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Sandies, Hybrids Hot Bites
Hunting Texas Special section inside * August 8, 2008 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 4, Issue 24 * Hunting Annual 2008 www.lonestaroutdoornews.com INSIDE HUNTING Sandies, hybrids hot bites Schools keep anglers in class The Texas Animal Health Commission approved new BY CRAIG NYHUS rules permitting the transport of male hogs to Summer means hot white bass and hybrid striped authorized game ranches bass action at many Texas lakes, and North Texas without requiring blood lakes like Lake Ray Hubbard, Ray Roberts, Lewisville tests for swine disease. and Richland Chambers lead the way for many. Page 6 Gary Goldsmith, a retired principal, fished Lewisville Lake with Art Kenney and Michael The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Anderson. “We caught and released more than 100 Service approved liberal sand bass reaching the 2-pound mark,” Goldsmith waterfowl limits for the said. “With 30 minutes of daylight left we went to an 2008-2009 season. area called Queen’s Point for hybrids. As soon as we Page 7 started the bite was on — we caught 20 more fish at that spot.” FISHING The group was fishing Lead Babies Slabs in 18 feet of water. “It’s best to keep them as close to the bottom as possible when fishing for hybrids,” Goldsmith said. East Texas lakes find crappie fishermen switching gears to chase sandies when the crappie bite slows. West Texas reservoirs see the whites hitting on top. And in the Hill Country, the Highland Lakes often get hot. “All of the fish are on the main lakes,” said Joe Bray, who guides on several Hill Country lakes. -
The Role of Freshwater Inflows in Sustaining Estuarine Ecosystem Health in the San Antonio Bay Region
The Role of Freshwater Inflows in Sustaining Estuarine Ecosystem Health in the San Antonio Bay Region Contract Number 05-018 September 15, 2006 1. Introduction Estuaries are vital aquatic habitats for supporting marine life, and they confer a multitude of benefits to humans in numerous ways. These benefits include the provision of natural resources used for a variety of market activities, recreational opportunities, transportation and aesthetics, as well as ecological functions such as storing and cycling nutrients, absorbing and detoxifying pollutants, maintaining the hydrological cycle, and moderating the local climate. The wide array of beneficial processes, functions and resources provided by the ecosystem are referred to collectively as “ecosystem services.” From this perspective, an estuary can be viewed as a valuable natural asset, or natural capital, from which these multiple goods and services flow.1 The quantity, quality and temporal variance of freshwater inflows are essential to the living and non-living components of bays and estuaries. Freshwater inflows to sustain ecosystem functions affect estuaries at all basic physical, chemical, and biological levels of interaction. The functional role of freshwater in the ecology of estuarine environments has been scientifically reviewed and is relatively well understood. This role is summarized in section 3, after a brief overview of the geographical context of the San Antonio Bay Region in the next section. Section 4 follows with discussion of the impacts of reduced freshwater inflow to the San Antonio Bay. Section 5 concludes with some general observations. 2. Geographical Context The San Antonio Bay Region, formed where the Guadalupe River meets the Guadalupe Estuary, teems with life. -
DA Fish Scales
Fisheries Research 170 (2015) 82–88 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Fisheries Research j ournal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/fishres Fish traceability: Guessing the origin of fish from a seafood market using fish scale shape ∗ Ana L. Ibánez˜ Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa Departamento de Hidrobiología, Av. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina. México, D.F. 09340, México a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: Fish traceability is an important tool in fish food safety and a recognition tool in the assessment of Received 6 December 2014 biodiversity and fisheries. Geometric morphometric methods were used to establish whether scale mor- Received in revised form 9 May 2015 phology may determine the origin of specimens from a fish market. In order to trace the origin of fish, the Accepted 19 May 2015 fish scale shape of two mugilids species Mugil cephalus and Mugil curema specimens from three different Handling Editor B. Morales-Nin trade premises at the Mexico City central fish market was analyzed and compared with the scale shape of Available online 6 June 2015 previously collected samples from known areas along the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific coasts. The origin of the fish market specimens was kept in a closed envelope and was revealed at the end of the study. Scale Keywords: shape was described using seven landmarks, the coordinates of which were subjected to a generalised Fish traceability Procrustes analysis, followed by a principal components analysis and discriminant analysis. Discriminant Fish scale shape Stock identification classification was used as the main indicator to identify the source of the fish, where the percentage of Fisheries management discrimination traced the origin of the specimens, respectively. -
PRESS RELEASE January 22, 2021
PRESS RELEASE January 22, 2021 Contact: Steven J. Raabe, P.E., Trustee P.O. Box 1269 Poth, Texas 78147-1269 Phone: 361-200-1456 Website: www.mbmTrust.com Email: [email protected] MATAGORDA BAY MITIGATION TRUST ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR NINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS On October 30, 2020 the Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust published a Request for Proposals for coastal environmental projects in four categories: habitat restoration, environmental research, public education, and improving public access. The Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust received a total of 39 proposals, from 16 entities, totaling 14.5 million dollars. Today, Steven Raabe, Trustee of the Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust, announces that nine projects, from six entities, totaling 3.2 million dollars have been approved for funding. “We were so fortunate to receive some great proposals and it was difficult for the selection committee to make their recommendation because of the limitation of available funds,” Raabe stated. “But we are extremely pleased with the quality, scope, and cost effectiveness of the proposals selected as a significant step to research, restore and improve the Matagorda and San Antonio bays area environment,” he added. The projects being funded, by category, are: Habitat Restoration (Three projects totaling $1,498,000) Protection and Restoration of the Blackjack Peninsula, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, $500,000, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program 1 Protection and Restoration of Matagorda Island West Marsh, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, $498,000, Coastal -
National Coastal Condition Assessment 2010
You may use the information and images contained in this document for non-commercial, personal, or educational purposes only, provided that you (1) do not modify such information and (2) include proper citation. If material is used for other purposes, you must obtain written permission from the author(s) to use the copyrighted material prior to its use. Reviewed: 7/27/2021 Jenny Wrast Environmental Institute of Houston FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 Lakes Field Lab, Data Report Research Design Field Lab, Data Rivers Design Field Lab, Data Report Research Design Field Streams Research Design Field Lab, Data Report Research Design Coastal Report Research Design Field Lab, Data Report Research Wetlands Research Research Research Design Field Lab, Data Report 11 sites in: • Sabine Lake • Galveston Bay • Trinity Bay • West Bay • East Bay • Christmas Bay 26 sites in: • East Matagorda Bay • Tres Palacios Bay • Lavaca Bay • Matagorda Bay • Carancahua Bay • Espiritu Santu Bay • San Antonio Bay • Ayres Bay • Mesquite Bay • Copano Bay • Aransas Bay 16 sites in: • Corpus Christi Bay • Nueces Bay • Upper Laguna Madre • Baffin Bay • East Bay • Alazan Bay •Lower Laguna Madre Finding Boat Launches Tracking Forms Locating the “X” Site Pathogen Indicator Enterococcus Habitat Assessment Water Field Measurements Light Attenuation Basic Water Chemistry Chlorophyll Nutrients Sediment Chemistry and Composition •Grain Size • TOC • Metals Sediment boat and equipment cleaned • PCBs after every site. • Organics Benthic Macroinvertebrates Sediment Toxicity Minimum of 3-Liters of sediment required at each site. Croaker Spot Catfish Whole Fish Sand Trout Contaminants Pinfish •Metals •PCBs •Organics Upper Laguna Madre Hurricanes Hermine & Igor Wind & Rain Upper Laguna Madre Copano Bay San Antonio Bay—August Trinity Bay—July Copano Bay—September Jenny Kristen UHCL-EIH Lynne TCEQ Misty Art Crowe Robin Cypher Anne Rogers Other UHCL-EIH Michele Blair Staff Dr. -
Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program Texas ACTRP
Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program Texas ACTRP • Senate Bill 1410 - Passed during 77th Legislative session (2001) – Mandated 10-day closure period in February • Conducted annually since 2002 – ~ 12,000 voluntary hours (> 3,000 volunteers) – > 1,000 vessels –> 35,000 traps! Commercial Crab Trap Tags in Texas 100000 90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 92 94 96 98 178 Licenses, 200 traps per license Condition Assessment • From 2002-2003, we performed an assessment study of retrieved traps looking at location, condition, bycatch, etc. Condition Assessment of Traps • 1,703 traps studied • 12% located on seagrass beds • 46% had ID present • 63% in fishable condition • 42% degradable panel present • 33% open • Oldest confirmed trap dated 1991 • 3 Diamondback terrapins Number % of Species Observed Scientific Name Observed Total Blue crab Callinectes sapidus 314 49 Stone crab Menippe adina 179 28 Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus 48 7 Thinstripe hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus 30 5 Gulf toadfish Opsanus beta 28 4 Black drum Pogonias cromis 12 2 Hardhead catfish Arius felis 6 1 Striped mullet Mugil cephalus 6 1 Red drum Sciaenops ocellatus 4 1 Pinfish Lagodon rhomboides 3 <0.01 Bay whiff Citharichthys spilopterus 3 <0.01 Diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin littoralis 3 <0.01 Longnose spider crab Libinia dubia 2 <0.01 Southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma 2 <0.01 Spotted scorpionfish Scorpaena plumieri 2 <0.01 Pelecypoda Rangia spp. 1 <0.01 Musk turtle Family Kinosternidae 1 <0.01 Spotted seatrout Cynoscion -
Commercial Fishing Guide |
Texas Commercial Fishing regulations summary 2021 2022 SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 – AUGUST 31, 2022 Subject to updates by Texas Legislature or Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission TEXAS COMMERCIAL FISHING REGULATIONS SUMMARY This publication is a summary of current regulations that govern commercial fishing, meaning any activity involving taking or handling fresh or saltwater aquatic products for pay or for barter, sale or exchange. Recreational fishing regulations can be found at OutdoorAnnual.com or on the mobile app (download available at OutdoorAnnual.com). LIMITED-ENTRY AND BUYBACK PROGRAMS .......................................................................... 3 COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN LICENSE TYPES ........................................................................... 3 COMMERCIAL FISHING BOAT LICENSE TYPES ........................................................................ 6 BAIT DEALER LICENSE TYPES LICENCIAS PARA VENDER CARNADA .................................................................................... 7 WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND OTHER BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMITS LICENCIAS Y PERMISOS COMERCIALES PARA NEGOCIOS MAYORISTAS Y MINORISTAS .......... 8 NONGAME FRESHWATER FISH (PERMIT) PERMISO PARA PESCADOS NO DEPORTIVOS EN AGUA DULCE ................................................ 12 BUYING AND SELLING AQUATIC PRODUCTS TAKEN FROM PUBLIC WATERS ............................. 13 FRESHWATER FISH ................................................................................................... 13 SALTWATER FISH ..................................................................................................... -
Economic Activity Associated with Hunting Along the Texas Gulf Coast
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH HUNTING ALONG THE TEXAS GULF COAST Joni S. Charles, PhD Contracted through the River Systems Institute Texas State University – San Marcos For the National Wildlife Federation February 2005 Introduction This report focuses on estimating the economic activity1 associated with hunting in Sabine Lake/Sabine-Neches Estuary, Galveston Bay/Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary, Matagorda Bay/Lavaca-Colorado Estuary, San Antonio Bay/Guadalupe Estuary, Aransas Bay/Mission-Aransas Estuary, Corpus Christi Bay/Nueces Estuary, Baffin Bay/Upper Laguna Madre Estuary, and South Bay/Lower Laguna Madre Estuary. Each bay/estuary area will define a separate geographic region of study comprised of one or more counties. The results show trip- and equipment-related spending of residents and non-residents on hunting in each of these regions and the impact this spending had on the economy in terms of earnings, employment and sales output. Migratory2 and resident birds, including waterfowl are assumed to be the primary targets of hunting opportunities in the regions of interest to this study. Estimates of the direct impacts associated with visitor spending were produced using IMPLAN, an input-output of the Texas economy developed by the Minnesota IMPLAN Group. General state information from the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation (U.S. Department of the Interior March 2003) and a study done by Southwick Associates (Southwick 2003)is available for hunting. However, no information exists on a regional basis for this type of activity, but stamp data exists on a county basis, and from this data, the number of licensed hunters can be obtained. -
Conservation Highlights Goose Island Marsh Restoration 2006 - 2011
C C A T E X A S Conservation Highlights Goose Island Marsh Restoration 2006 - 2011 ** $700,000 CCA Texas Laboratory for Marine Larviculture – UTMSI Port Aransas $500,000 100 acre oyster reef restoration project in East Galveston Bay ** $250,000 Shrimp License Buyback Program ** $175,572 TPWD summer internship program ** $150,000 Graduate-Level Scholarships at Texas A&M - College Station, Galveston & Corpus Christi and University of Texas Marine Science Institute $115,000 Offshore Artificial Reef between Matagorda and Port O’Connor ** $ 98,352 TPWD Game Warden Enforcement Equipment ** $ 70,000 Nueces Bay Delta water management system ** $ 50,000 TPWD Goose Island Marsh Restoration Project – Rockport $ 50,000 Offshore Artificial Vancouver Reef - Freeport $ 50,000 Offshore Artificial Reef - Port Mansfield $ 50,000 JD Muphree marsh protection project – Ducks Unlimited partnership ** $ 50,000 Endowment of the Allen Jacoby Memorial Scholarship at UTMSI $ 50,000 Bird Island Cove marsh restoration project - TPWD $ 42,000 Galveston Bay Sportsman’s Road Marsh Restoration Project – Galveston ** $ 40,000 CCA/CPL Marine Development Center youth fishing pier $ 40,000 Endowment of the Bob Brister Memorial Scholarship at UT – Austin ** $ 37,000 UTMSI Red Snapper Recreational Catch-and-Release Study $ 35,000 Bahia Grande Wetlands Restoration - Interior Channels Project ** $ 32,900 TPWD Game Warden Outpost Cabin - Lower Laguna Madre/Land Cut ** $ 32,000 TAMU – Harte Research Institute East Cut Study - Port Mansfield ** $ 30,500 UTMSI Snook Study ** $ 30,000 -
Dishonorable Discharge Toxic Pollution of Texas Waters
E NVIRONMENTAL W G TM The State PIRGs ORKING ROUP Dishonorable Discharge Toxic Pollution of Texas Waters Jacqueline D. Savitz Christopher Campbell Richard Wiles Carolyn Hartmann Dishonorable Discharge was released in cooperation with the following organiza- tions. Environmental Working Group is solely responsible for the analyses and in- formation contained in this report. National Organizations Acknowledgments Citizen Action and We are grateful to Molly Evans who designed and produced the report affiliated state organizations and to Allison Daly who coordinated its release. Thanks to Ken Cook Clean Water Action and Mark Childress for their editing and advice, and to Dale Klaus of and affiliated state organizations U.S. PIRG who assisted with research. Environmental Information Center River Network Dishonorable Discharge was made possible by grants from The Joyce Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund Foundation, the W. Alton Jones Foundation, The Pew Charitable U.S. Public Interest Research Group Trusts, and Working Assets Funding Service. A computer equipment and the State PIRGs grant from the Apple Computer Corporation made our analysis pos- sible. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors Regional, State and and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts or our other supporters listed above. River Organizations Alabama State River Coalition Copyright © September 1996 by the Environmental Working Group/ Alaska Center for the Environment The Tides Center. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United Chesapeake Bay Foundation States of America, printed on recycled paper. Clean Water Fund of North Carolina Colorado Rivers Alliance U.S. PIRG and The State PIRGs Dakota Resource Council The United States Public Interest Research Organization (U.S. -
Texas Estuaries Human Recreational Activities
bays in peril bays in peril WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT GLOSSARY OF KEY CONCEPTS A Water is the lifeblood of our Texas landscape. Texas Naturalized Conditions: rivers provide water and habitat for fi sh and wildlife A computer model scenario showing freshwater infl ow throughout the state and provide the freshwater that amounts that would have occurred during about a 50- forecast for freshwater keeps coastal estuaries functioning and healthy. Unfor- year period if there had not been water withdrawals, dams, or other human alterations of infl ow patterns. tunately, we haven’t done a very good job of protecting Used as a baseline for comparison. fl ows to our rivers. Most water use permits were issued without Future Use: any consideration of how much fl ow should be left in A computer model scenario showing freshwater the river to protect water quality, fi sh and wildlife, and infl ow amounts during the same period as for natu- Texas estuaries human recreational activities. ralized conditions if all existing water withdrawal permits were fully used and levels of wastewater reuse Even today, the state hasn’t come to grips with how to were increased to about 50%. protect river fl ows and freshwater infl ows to the coast. Periods Below Drought The state and 16 regional water planning groups are Tolerance Levels: Sabine Lake developing plans to meet water demands for the next 50 A determination of the number of periods of six con- years, but so far that process does not include freshwater secutive months of very low freshwater infl ows, with- report summary infl ows as a water demand to be met. -
Proquest Dissertations
RICE UNIVERSITY Response of the Texas Coast to Global Change: Geologic Versus Historic Timescales By Davin Johannes Wallace A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE Doctor of Philosophy APPROVED, THESIS COMMITTEE: John B. Anderson, W. MauriceTiwing Professor in Oceanography Brandon DuganTASsTstant Professor of Earth Science Cin-Ty A. LeefAssociate Professor of Earth Science Carrie A. Masiello, Assistant Professor of Earth Science 'A Philip Bedient, Herman and George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering HOUSTON, TEXAS MAY 2010 UMI Number: 3421388 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Dissertation Publishing UMI 3421388 Copyright 2010 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ABSTRACT Response of the Texas Coast to Global Change: Geologic Versus Historic Timescales by Davin Johannes Wallace The response of coastal systems to global change is currently not well understood. To understand current patterns and predict future trends, we establish a geologic record of coastal change along the Gulf of Mexico coast. A study examining the natural versus anthropogenic mechanisms of erosion reveals several sand sources and sinks along the upper Texas coast.