Dania Summit Results, 21 January 2006

FRESHWATER FISHERIES SUMMIT RESULTS
DANIA, FLORIDA
January 21, 2006

• Concern about law enforcement, exceeding education and outreach efforts in dealing with public.

• Example Reserve Program only does law enforcement now, volunteer opportunities for education and outreach are outside that program (regional fisheries initiatives.

• Note: the Legislature eliminated the volunteer coordinator program and reduced agency involvement in education-centralized education in the DOE.

• Education/Outreach is coordinated by Steve Marshall, who is present, and there are volunteer opportunities.

• Concern with resistance by other agencies to opening new areas to fisheries—due to litter, safety and other related concerns.

• FWC works to advocate public access for outdoor recreation and needs public support to demonstrate the importance.

• Public Meetings on Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) have emphasized the need but little progress has been demonstrated.

• WMD ‘ownership/responsibility’ for water levels and habitat and their key role in allowing access.

• Hydrilla and other problems in Urban Fishing Areas (e.g., Tropical Park). Enhance work with county, potential triploid grass carp)

• Emphasize the importance of the public collectively approaching the WMD and other agencies of the importance of access and the economic impact of quality fisheries. (SAFER cited as a good example of what needs to happen)

• Example C-111, and a WMD survey that demonstrates quantitatively the value.

• Need for explaining Mercury consumption advisories and other public messages.

• WRAC responded to Ducks Unlimited due to their organizational impact. It is an example of how the public can make a difference.

• Fishermen are currently less organized than hunters and other environmental groups. Lake Trafford community efforts is another positive example of how once the public decides to be vocal things happen.

• Desire for 100% catch-and-release (including pan fish) not locally acceptable but controlling power boats may be.

• Fish stocking currently mostly hybrids in Osborne and channel catfish in urban ponds.

• Peacock bass range is limited by temperature. Mild winters allow them to expand temporarily but below 60 degrees they die back to the original canal areas. $10 million local fisheries impact without adverse impact on natives and adding some control for undesirable non-native fishes associated with aquariums for the most part.

• Impact of removing native vegetation on bait fish. DEP has regulations and they can be notified directly or go through FWC (e.g., call Wildlife Alert).

• What about stocking bait fish (e.g., Santee-Cooper example). Habitat and natural productivity is more economical and long-lasting, but can have some effect.

• Fish attractors were enjoyed by the public, but was another project cut due to budget limits. They don’t produce more fish just concentrate them for anglers.

• Public concern with swamp eels, snakeheads and similar fishes. Swamp eels are slow developing and haven’t expanded rapidly in Florida or created documented adverse impacts—in spite of public concerns. Walking catfish that were a major public issue in the 1960’s but have not had the biological impact that was feared. Currently 23 established, and 8 reproducing accidental introductions that FWC would eliminate if possible, but prevention is the best cure.

• Swamp eels are predators mostly on insects and small fish but lethargic. They are consumed by bass.

• Snakehead are higher level predators and also fed on by bass. They are a popular sport and table fish elsewhere.

• Currently neither are creating a competitive problem with bass and native fishes, but they don’t belong here. FWC wants to prevent their spread, if you catch them don’t release them.

• Concern with Lake Okeechobee. Recent FLW tournament demonstrated the limited bass population and turbidity is destroying the other sport fishes and preventing vegetation establishment.

• COE influence on restoration plans for the future, especially related to water levels and need to affect schedules.

• Okeechobee needs to be ‘rescued.’ It is dying. There is a need to drop the level, dry it out, perhaps burn/scrape some.

• Friends of Okeechobee has disbanded. Bait shops are closing.

• Don Fox presented a PowerPoint showing the tremendous decline in crappie and bass and explaining this began prior to the hurricanes but was exacerbated by those events.

• Turbidity is preventing vegetation from rooting, without phytoplankton chironomids (chizzy-winks, blood worms) are gone so there is no food for small fish. Without shad and bait fish, crappie and bass are not recruiting. It is now bacterial based—not phytoplankton.

• Solutions begin with shifting water schedules, but places to put the water are an issue.

• Scientists and others met to discuss the possibility. A 12’ to 15’ water level schedule was recommended but not implemented.

• COE sets parameters within which WMD must operate. A current series of meetings (Lake Okeechobee Regulation Study—LORS) is taking place and is an opportunity for anglers to impact the schedule.

• Agencies are limited in influence, but the public needs to show up as voters and impacted individuals or groups to emphasize the crises.

• How do we motivate more than a million freshwater anglers in Florida to speak up to ensure the future of their sport and a $2 billion industry that supports 19,000 jobs.

• That’s the heart of what this meeting is about and FWC’s efforts to get the public to speak up.

• Need for organized public efforts to communicate the concerns and needs to the Governor and Legislature.

• 12-15 foot schedule recommended on a three-year cycle, as a long-term cure.

• A draw down to work would need to be down for 3-4 MONTHS, and may require some dredging and burning.

• Reducing phosphorous loads is also important, some can be buried but it gets resuspended when hurricanes or similar events occur.

• The levee sits at 14’ so when water goes above that it does not spread creating more vegetation, it just gets deeper.

• WRAC provides an opportunity to meet with groups in the estuaries on both coasts to discuss releases.

• Now is a window of opportunity with them and the science is known and understood. It is communicating the socio-political issues that has to occur.

• All haul seining activity has shut down because shad (the major fish prey for sport fish in Okeechobee) are gone.

• COE sets parameters and another factor is the water coming from the Kissimmee Chain.

• Immediate needs, reservoirs north of the lake are too far off. If the regulation schedule were changed now, the earliest impact would be 2010 under normal COE schedules. West Coast tried declaring an emergency and were not successful.

• St. Lucie land owners need to understand the long-term perspective, which requires education. River Coalition is tentatively willing to take the impact now, since so many problems are already prevalent. They already formally support a lower lake level.

• “Decisions are made by those that show up.”

• Agencies are not allowed to lobby, we can supply technical and scientific facts and work within our own areas of responsibility.

• WMD and FWC staff are speaking out about the resource (Scientific Report and Recommendations is available in the front of the room) and needs for water level changes. But a balance with other interests is sought by the managing agencies.

• Organized coalitions represent votes and can best explain the economic impacts and impacts on social values.

• Complacency among Florida’s anglers has occurred because of the abundance of resources. People have felt they could always find somewhere that fishing is good.

• With 1,000 plus people per day adding to Florida’s population, many aren’t aware of the changes. Crisis management is coming and bringing BASS, FLW, IGFA, BassPro and others including SAFER and SOS Lakes together would be a great start.

PHOTOS OF THE SUMMITS ARE AVAILABLE ON-LINE

Take Me Fishing.org is a great general information site for recreational anglers and boaters.

Florida Fishing Capital of the World--Great Resources, Responsible Management