U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service commercially prepared foods. These advances in What is being done to protect paddlefish? The key culture technology, and the high demand for paddle- to survival of this ancient species is to better under- fish as a source of caviar and smoked flesh, has stand paddlefish biology and habitat requirements. In increased interest in the private aquaculture commu- this interest, telemetry or “tracking” studies, using Paddlefish nity for the species. radio transmitters have been used to learn more about paddlefish movement and habitat use in selected areas. Polyodon spathula Human Uses: Commercial paddlefish harvest has On a much larger scale, the Mississippi River Basin fluctuated since the late 1800’s, varying with demand states, cooperating through a 28-state organization for eggs and smoked flesh. These factors have caused called the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource paddlefish fisheries to experience “boom and bust” Association (MICRA), are tagging paddlefish with cycles which include overexploitation followed by miniature, stainless steel, coded wire tags to gather abandonment due to the unprofitability of fishing. information on distribution, movement, condition, and Stocks are then left to recover - a process that exploitation. This large scale, unprecedented effort, sometimes takes decades. Such a recovery began in rivaling salmon studies on the west coast, is the largest the in the middle part of the 20th century, but since the such study ever conducted on a nonanadromous 1980’s, demand for caviar has increased as has fishing freshwater fish species. Twenty-two of the basin states pressure. Recent prices for unprocessed paddlefish and several federal agencies and universities are eggs have fluctuated from $30-90 per lb, with a cooperating. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists potential value of $250-700 per fish. This high value in Illinois and Missouri are managing the database for has led to illegal fishing which has seriously damaged this important project. Such cooperation between paddlefish fisheries in several reservoirs in the management agencies and the public is essential to Midwest and Southeastern states. Recent demand for ensure survival of the paddlefish. paddlefish eggs as a caviar substitute has been spurred by the virtual collapse of eastern European sturgeon What can you do? Purchase appropriate state fishing populations brought on by overfishing in the aftermath licenses, as well as habitat and special program stamps of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Because for riverine management and protection when available endangered sturgeon species are at risk, international from local, state and federal natural resource agencies. caviar production and marketing are now closely Become informed about pollution and river manage- monitored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under ment issues by consulting with state and federal the Convention on the International Trade of Endan- agencies, conservation groups and the media. Support gered Species (CITES). DNA analyses have been regulations designed to prevent the illegal sale and used to differentiate between paddlefish and sturgeon trade in paddlefish roe as caviar. Inform appropriate eggs. In some cases paddlefish eggs have been found decision makers of your support for issues related to to be mixed with sturgeon eggs and sold as pure the protection and management of rivers for the sturgeon caviar. In other instances paddlefish eggs maintenance of healthy ecosystems and fish popula- have been directly marketed as pure caviar. In most tions. If we all work together we can help to ensure Description: Paddlefish are characterized by a long cases, paddlefish eggs have been legally collected and that this ancient species can live along side of thriving paddle-like snout or rostrum extending to about one- exported from the U.S. only to return as a foreign economies and human populations! caviar import. In addition to their commercial value, third of their body length. Coloration of their scaleless, torpedo-shaped body is blue-grey to black along the paddlefish are also an important sport fish in several For More Information Contact: Midwestern and Southeastern states. In these states back and dark grey to white on the underside. Paddle- fish grow to over 5 ft. in length and commonly weigh paddlefish fisheries are managed by seasons and bag U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service more than 60 lbs. They can live beyond 30 yrs of age limits to ensure sustained harvests. However, in some La Crosse Fishery Resources Office and have been known to reach weights of up to 198 lbs. states such as Wisconsin and Minnesota paddlefish 555 Lester Avenue Their skeletal system is composed primarily of are protected from all forms of harvest, and it is illegal Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650 cartilage and the jaws of adults have no teeth. Instead, to snag or possess a paddlefish. (608) 783-8434 comblike structures, called gill rakers (attached to the Revised 16 May 2001 gills) are used to filter zooplankton (microscopic lakes and can travel over long distances. Recent commercial animals), their primary food, from the water as they studies have documented paddlefish movements over and recre- swim along with their mouths open. hundreds of miles, between major tributaries (Missis- ational anglers sippi, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee and Red rivers), and have also Biology: In the Midwest, females usually do not reach to, from and between the coastal rivers of Texas and contributed to sexual maturity until at least 10 yrs of age at weights of the Gulf of Mexico. the decline. 28-30 lbs. Males mature at about 8 yrs of age and Unfortunately, weights of 15-20 lbs. In the south, female paddlefish Historic and Present Range: Under the relatively population can reach maturity in 7-8 yrs of age and 18-20 lbs in natural, unaltered conditions, existing prior to the early problems are 1900’s, paddlefish commonly inhabited and moved not always freely within the large, free-flowing rivers, braided immediately channels, backwaters, and oxbow lakes of the entire recognized Mississippi River Drainage Basin, the adjacent Gulf of because paddlefish are long-lived and weight, while males reach this stage at about 5-6 yrs of highly mobile, age and 11-15 lbs in weight. Paddlefish generally and their grow faster in reservoirs than in rivers, presumably presence is because of the increased abundance and availability of sometimes food. In the right setting they can easily gain 5-6 lbs of construed as an Dams (hydropower, flood control and weight per year. Precise timing of water temperature, indication that navigation) located throughout the photoperiod and flow are necessary for successful the species has Mississippi River Basin block reproduction. Paddlefish spawn over gravel substrates not been upstream paddlefish movements. in the flowing waters of large rivers. Photoperiod and adversely affected. However, in the Upper water temperature (50-61°F) control the timing of Mississippi River, paddlefish are largely isolated spawning, but an increase in water flow is the trigger- Historic Range and Distribution of Paddlefish. into small, localized subpopulations (primarily ing mechanism necessary to stimulate spawning. Mexico drainages, and some areas in the Great Lakes from pools 4 to 13) by the system of navigation When conditions are right both males and females (see map). Those areas provided ideal habitat for dams which occur upstream from St. Louis, gather in flowing waters over spawning beds. Eggs spawning and feeding. Extensive dam building in the Missouri. The future survival of paddlefish will and sperm are released at this time and fertilized eggs mid 1900’s significantly reduced the extent of these require effective management that entails an settle to the bottom, where they adhere to the gravel. movements, but adult paddlefish tagged and released in improved awareness of how environmental Fast moving water over the gravel bed provides oxygen recent years in Oklahoma waters of the Arkansas River factors affect them, and a better understanding of and prevents silt from have been recaptured as far away as Tennessee in the their life history and basic biological require- suffocating the develop- Tennessee River. However today, significant declines ments. ing embryos. Upon in major paddlefish stocks have occurred over their hatching (about 7 days) “Larval Paddlefish” entire natural range. A relict population has also been Artificial Propagation: Techniques for artificial paddlefish larvae begin an up and down swimming lost from the Great Lakes. spawning and culture of paddlefish were devel- motion allowing the current to carry them downstream oped in the late 1960’s in Missouri as part of a into deeper pools where they develop further and begin Reasons for Decline: One of the primary reasons for mitigation agreement with the U.S. Army, Corps feeding. At hatching, paddlefish do not have a long the decline in paddlefish populations is the loss of of Engineers for construction of Truman Dam on rostrum. This develops over time, and is thought to be spawning and rearing habitat due to environmental the Osage River. These methods have been used as a hydrofoil-type mechanism for maintaining alteration. Dam construction has eliminated spawning modified and improved during recent years, and position in the current. The rostrum is also a highly sites, interrupted natural spawning migrations, altered paddlefish fingerlings are now reared both developed sensory organ used for locating food and water flow, and eliminated backwaters that were intensively (in raceways and in circular tanks) avoiding underwater objects as they swim along. important as nursery and feeding areas. Industrial and extensively (in ponds); and techniques have Paddlefish feed in large open water areas of rivers and contaminants, illegal fishing, and overexploitation by been developed to train paddlefish to accept