NANFA-- threatened fish
R.W.Wolff (choupiqu_at_wctc.net)
Tue, 2 Nov 1999 23:31:07 -0600
Dave,
I'm glad you understood where i was coming from. Here is another one for
you or anyone else to give me some insight on.
I will pick something real and close to home.
Fundulus dispar: listed Endangered by wisconsin.
Range maps published show a thin line bordering the southern edge of the
state and barely up the Mississipi river. yet if you went out to areas
away from the south border, you'd find plenty, and up the Mississippi
valley to the bend in the state. Inland from the Mississippi in
tributaries with the correct habitat, and this includes somes sites on the
great marsh area of central Wisconsin, an interconnected bunch of swamp and
canals , ditches and flowages. I heard the reason for listing is "edge of
range" . I not naming all species, but the edge of range thing has got me
stumped. Either habitat has improved signifgantly since these samples were
taken, and fish migrated a whole lot, or there just wasn't good enough
sampling happening. There are plenty of other fish that are not found
throughout the state, because only suitable habitat is in certain regions.
i think this diverts attention away from fish that are really in trouble.
I am having a hard time explaining what I mean here. I hope this makes
sense enough??? I do have to give credit where credit is due. there were
many species on the list here that I found to be common in my travels, that
have come off in the 99 listing.
Speaking of rotenone usage. The DNR plans to use this to kill off carp
in the horicon marsh this winter, then restock with common game fish this
next year. They also state that many carp will make it and have to be
manually removed this spring. I see it as sensless waste to kill all
fish, still have to remove them manually, then call it a success if it
lasts atleast ten years. There are several species that I'm sure won't be
replaced because they are not in every issue of every fishing magazine that
are important parts of this eco- system. I have found the best fishing
water are those with the most diversity, atleast when it comes to warm
water fising ( trout streams dont seem to work this way). One problem is
carp are considered toxic waste, as they are full of mercury and other
poisons, and cant be removed and put in landfill situations. yet these
"vessels of poison" can be allowed to rot and release the toxins back into
the water. I wish I had an answer for this, but don't. I feel strongly
that this is the wrong way to take care of the carp epidemic. I was hoping
that this method of removal was gone, but its back. Too bad horicon marsh
did not have a population of fundulus dispar in it??? Then what???
Ray
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