Management Plan for Invasive Northern Pike in Alaska Photo by Jim Lavakras, Compliments of Anchorage Daily News Prepared by: Southcentral Alaska Northern Pike Control Committee Table of Contents Section Page List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures.......................................................................................................................... iv List of Appendices ................................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 1 I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Aquatic Nuisance Species................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Northern Pike Introductions................................................................................................ 3 Native Range................................................................................................................. 3 International ................................................................................................................. 3 United Statesl................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Biology of Northern Pike....................................................................................................3 1.4 Problems with Northern Pike.............................................................................................. 4 Ecological ..................................................................................................................... 4 Economic....................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Status of Northern Pike In Alaska ...................................................................................... 5 Native Range................................................................................................................. 5 History of Pike Introductions........................................................................................ 6 Northern and Western Cook Inlet................................................................................. 6 Anchorage Area ............................................................................................................ 7 Kenai Peninsula............................................................................................................ 7 Southeast....................................................................................................................... 8 Prince William Sound/ Copper River ........................................................................... 8 1.6 Current Pike Eradication Projects....................................................................................... 9 1.7 Alaska’s Preliminary Pike Control Activities..................................................................... 9 1.8 Plan Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 10 II. Problem Statement ................................................................................................................... 11 III. Invasive Northern Pike Management Strategy ....................................................................... 11 IV. Planning Process..................................................................................................................... 12 4.1 Outreach, Information & Education ................................................................................. 12 4.2 Prevention ......................................................................................................................... 12 4.3 Partnerships....................................................................................................................... 13 4.4 Interagency Coordination.................................................................................................. 13 4.5 Research Investigations .................................................................................................... 13 4.6 Pathway Analysis.............................................................................................................. 13 4.7 Steps in the Process........................................................................................................... 14 Detection and Monitoring (step 1)................................................................................. 14 Assessment (step 2)........................................................................................................ 14 Proposed Management Actions (step 3) ........................................................................ 15 Public Involvement (step 4)........................................................................................... 15 Management Action Implementation (step 5) ............................................................... 16 Restoration Evaluation (step 6)...................................................................................... 16 V. Evaluation of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 16 5.1 Analysis of Pike Control Techniques and Management Options ..................................... 16 ii Techniques for Lacustrine Habitats ............................................................................... 16 Lake Barriers....................................................................................................... 16 Passage Restrictions........................................................................................... 17 Prey Manipulations/ Control in Lakes ............................................................... 17 Discontinue Lake Enhancement ........................................................................ 19 Harvest Strategies in Lakes................................................................................ 19 Techniques for Riverine Habitats .................................................................................. 20 River Barriers..................................................................................................... 20 Prey Manipulations/ Control in Rivers .............................................................. 21 Harvest Strategies in Rivers............................................................................... 21 Techniques for Habitat Manipulation ............................................................................ 22 Aquatic Vegetation Removal............................................................................. 22 Physical Parameters Manipulation..................................................................... 23 Dewatering......................................................................................................... 24 Pressure.............................................................................................................. 24 Techniques for Pike or Prey Removal ........................................................................... 25 Electrofishing..................................................................................................... 25 Sterilization........................................................................................................ 26 Winterkill ........................................................................................................... 26 Bounty................................................................................................................ 27 Chemical Treatments ......................................................................................... 28 Other Chemical Compounds.............................................................................. 29 Biological Treatments........................................................................................ 30 5.2 Techniques for Managing a Pike Fishery ......................................................................... 31 5.3 Consequences of Inaction ................................................................................................. 32 5.4 Summary of Restoration Findings .................................................................................... 32 Acknowledgements................................................................................................................. 33 VI. References............................................................................................................................... 33 iii Section Page List of Tables Table 1. Confirmed and suspected pike waters in the Upper Cook Inlet Management Area 38 Table 2. Confirmed and suspected pike waters in the Anchorage Management Area........... 41 Table 3. Confirmed and suspected pike waters in the Kenai Peninsula Management Area.. 42 List of Figures Figure 1. Locations of Non-indigenous northern pike in the United States .......................... 43 Figure 2. Photograph of a Northern Pike ............................................................................... 44 Figure 3. Native and non-native ranges of