NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

January 27, 2000

CONTACT: Sam McKinney (352) 732-1225 or John Benton (352) 742-6438

FRESHWATER NET FISHERMEN ARE PROBABLY LEGAL

From December through May the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) receives calls from concerned members of the public that net-tossing fishermen are removing quantities of fish from Central Florida lakes and canals using large, circular nets, which are called cast nets. These are generally commercial fishermen who are licensed by the FWC and pay a fee to make a living taking shiners for bait, or catfish or blue tilapia (Nile perch) for human consumption.

In the case of Nile perch, the fisherman are helping to remove a species of fish that doesn't belong in Florida's waters.

"Nile perch arrived in the state from an accidental release in the 1960s and have made themselves at home here," said John Benton, a FWC fisheries biologist. "Unfortunately, these fish compete for the same habitat as the native fish species, such as bass and bream."

They are from a class of fish imported from Africa known as cichlids, which are a popular aquarium fish. They are mouth-brooding, which means they hold their eggs in their mouths until they hatch, and are known for aggressively defending their territory.

When you see fishermen removing these fish, they are likely doing it legally. However, if you have any concerns, please write down a description of the boat and its occupants, the boat registration number, and the time of day and location, and call the FWC office in Ocala at (352) 732-1225 or after hours at 1-800-342-9620.