2005 SOUTHERN DIVISION of AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY MEETING ABSTRACTS Virginia Beach, Virginia
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2005 SOUTHERN DIVISION OF AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY MEETING ABSTRACTS Virginia Beach, Virginia Oral Presentations Asian Carp Symposium Origin and Perspectives of the National Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program Vincent A. Mudrak* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Warm Springs, GA 31830 Asian grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were introduced into the United States in 1963 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The goal was to find a biological alternative to the use of chemicals as a control measure for invasive aquatic plants. Most scientists and managers of the 1960s focused on the positive aspects of the introduction. But the original premise, that grass carp life history requirements would preclude reproduction in open waters of the United States, proved false, and grass carp became established in some rivers. In order to control the proliferation of grass carp, studies led to the development of triploid grass carp, which contained three sets of chromosomes, and which were determined to be reproductively non-functional. Additionally, during the 1980s, the USFWS worked with the aquaculture industry and instituted a process to inspect grass carp for ploidy. The USFWS agreed to certify grass carp that were destined to go to states that would only accept grass carp that were certified as non-diploid by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Then in the early 1990s, because of budgetary shortfalls and changing priorities, the USFWS considered the withdrawal from active participation in the inspection and certification process. But state managers desiring the continued use of triploid grass carp sought help, and in 1995, the 104th Congress responded by passing a law that authorized the USFWS to collect fees to administer a certification program. The resultant USFWS program embraced quality assurance standards for inspectors and producers, and is presently known as The National Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program. Keywords: Asian, Carp, triploid, government, Dietary overlap of Asian carp and native filter feeding fishes in the Upper Mississippi River System Chick, J.H., Sampson, S.J., and Pegg, M.A. Illinois Natural History Survey Bighead and silver carp became established in the Mississippi River during the 1980’s, and have been spreading through the drainage basin since that time. Data from the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program suggests that these species became established in the Upper Mississippi River System in the early 1990’s. Both species are filter feeders, consuming zooplankton and phytoplankton, and therefore have the potential to compete with native filter- feeding fishes including paddlefish, bigmouth buffalo, and gizzard shad. We collected dietary samples from the two Asian carp species and the three native filter-feeding fishes during the late spring of 2002 and 2003. We sampled fish and zooplankton in backwater lakes because all five species are known to congregate in these habitats during the spring, allowing for dietary comparisons from fish feeding in similar locations. Dietary overlap was greatest among bighead carp, silver carp, and gizzard shad. Rotifers dominated the diet of all three of these species, whereas bigmouth buffalo and paddlefish primarily consumed larger zooplankton (e.g., copepods and cladocerans). Our results suggest that of the native filter-feeding fishes in the Upper Mississippi River system, bighead and silver carp have the greatest potential for negative interactions with gizzard shad. Keywords: Asian carp, dietary overlap, filter-feeding fishes, zooplankton THE U.S. ASIAN CARP INDUSTRY: ECONOMIC VALUE AND IMPORTANCE Engle*, C.R. and N.M. Stone. Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff The top four finfish species cultured worldwide, in terms of volume of production, are Asian carps. This group of fish has been introduced into many different countries and constitutes an important source of food for many people across the globe. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus ) were introduced into the U.S. in 1963, bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) carp in the 1970s and black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) were introduced somewhat later, in the 1980s. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Auburn University, and the Illinois Natural History Survey were among the pioneers that conducted research on culturing Chinese carps and promoted their culture on private fish farms. As investigators sought solutions for two critical issues of that era, clean water and the food supply for a growing world population, early research focused on using the carps in polyculture to treat wastewater and to turn agricultural wastes into animal protein. In spite of their 30-year history in the U.S., a great deal of controversy has emerged over the presence of these fish species in U.S. waters. The controversy has extended to attempts to prevent the interstate shipment of various Asian carps as fish farmers transport fish from their farms to Asian grocery stores for live sales. Asian carp are commercially traded in the U.S. on a significant scale. Farmers have a substantial investment in broodstock and in the infrastructure to produce, haul, and sell carp. Restrictions on production and sale of Asian caps will affect large numbers of small businesses. The economic impact of destroying this industry will represent millions of dollars of economic losses. Bighead carp are commonly co-cultured in catfish ponds and with other fish species in the U.S. Budgets have shown that bighead carp generate an additional $192/acre. Sales of bighead carp have enabled catfish farms to survive times of low prices by providing an alternative crop to sell to diversify farm revenue. Bighead are hauled from fish farms to New York, Chicago and other major cities. Based on informal polls in Arkansas and Mississippi, farm-gate sales in 2003 were estimated at $5.36 - $6.5 million/yr with an additional revenue of $6.09 - $21.7 million/yr through the supply chain. Moreover, closures of catfish farms that did not have the risk reduction benefits of bigheads, would have incurred losses of $22 million, for a total economic impact of $135 million/yr. This would equate to losses of 1,026 jobs in the Delta regions of the two states. Grass carp are used in many states throughout the U.S. for aquatic weed control. It has been estimated that use of grass carp for weed control costs about $45-$125/acre while other means will cost from $100 - $26,200/acre to control aquatic weeds. Survey data show that 42% of catfish farms stocked grass carp in foodfish ponds. Black carp are used to control snails in fish ponds. A recent study estimated the economic effect of restricted access to black carp on hybrid striped bass farms. The effects stem from the higher mortality of fingerlings and reduced marketability of bass foodfish. Net farm revenues decreased by 58% to 100% with the greatest decreases on the smaller farms. Keywords: Bighead carp industry, grass carp industry, black carp, economics National Standards for Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program Heil*, N.P., and Hickson*, B.H. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Warm Springs, GA The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) offers a triploid grass carp inspection service for natural resource agencies in the United States and in other countries, to help States and others protect their aquatic habitats. The inspection program is to provide assurance to these agencies, and others concerned about protecting aquatic resources, that shipments of grass carp alleged to be all triploid, do not, within the confidence limits of the inspection program, contain diploids. A set of standards have been developed to provide quality assurance which the USFWS will use to provide consistency and fairness in dealing with different circumstances encountered in the implementation of a National Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program. The critical elements of the Program are described in four categories: (1) Standards for USFWS Inspectors; (2) Standards for Grass Carp Producers; (3) Checklist for Inspectors and Producers; and (4) Standards for Collection and Fees. The standards are available at web address: http://warmsprings.fws.gov/FishHealth/index.html. Keywords: Grass, Carp, Triploid, Standards, USFWS, Certificatio Development of a National Asian Carp Management Plan Conover*, Greg C. The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force requested the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service organize an Asian Carp Work Group and lead the development of a national management and control plan for bighead, black, grass, and silver carp. Representatives from federal, state, and Canadian natural resources management agencies, Native American tribes, industry professionals, universities, and non-governmental organizations are working together to draft the plan. Broad and diverse representation of stakeholders on the Work Group is intended to bring multiple interests together to collaborate on effective methods of prevention and control to protect native ecosystems from potential impacts of these species. The Work Group has developed goals and objectives for the plan and is beginning to draft the plan. This comprehensive plan will include a variety of control strategies and specific actions to be taken by federal, state, and local agencies, and by the private sector to limit the further spread, prevent additional introductions, and reduce the impacts of existing populations of Asian carps in the wild. Once drafted, the Working Group will lead efforts to solicit public comments and refine the draft management plan as necessary. The final management plan will then be submitted to the Task Force for implementation approval. Keywords: Asian carp management Telemetry and habitat characterization of bighead and silver carp in the lower Missouri River. Chapman*, D.C. Telemetry and depth temperature archival tags were used to determine habitat selection and behavior of bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) in the Missouri River from fall 2002 – summer 2004.