Overview of the Alligator Gar Conservation Management Plan for Alabama Dave Armstrong Alabama...
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Overview of the Alligator Gar Conservation Management Plan for Alabama
Dave ArmstrongAlabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater FisheriesSpanish Fort, Alabama, 36527Phone: 251-626-5153.Email: [email protected]
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Alligator gar history
• Prior to 1990’s, Alligator gar were fairly common, relatively easy to catch.
• Alligator gar provided a late summer fishery when “nothing else would bite”.
• A
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Alligator gar abundant?, ~1985
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Alligator Gar Fishing Regulations
• Prior to 1992, No bag limit. Status is a “Regulated Non-game” fish. 220-2-.45
• Due to significant harvest in early 1990’s,
a bag limit was promulgated at
2 fish/angler/day.
( October 1, 1992. 220-2-.105. )
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Alligator Gar Public Meeting.
• Interest in Alligator gar spurred a public meeting to discuss population status, concerns, & ideas about management.
• Alli-gar anglers were invited to talk openly in informal meeting, October 12, 2004.
• Various ideas were discussed RE:Population restoration & enhancement objectives.
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What did we learn from anglers?
• Angler groups were self-regulating with Alli-gar harvest well below the current limit!In fact, most Alabama bow anglers harvest less than 1 alli-gar per year!
• Hook & line anglers utilize catch & release.
• Alli-gar pops. are diminished, but feel that numbers are stable…maybe recovering?
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Alligator Gar Fishing Regulations
• Because current perceived angler harvest was low, an updated regulation was promulgated that satisfied both anglers and Alligator gar recovery plans.
• Bag limit changed from
2 to 1 fish/angler/day.
( October 1, 2005. 220-2-.35. )
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Some anglers really like gar…• A small number of anglers really enjoy
catching alligator gar. Interest in this fish among anglers was spurred on by harvest of a new state record, August 13, 2004.
• This new record Alli-gar also generated great interest from biologists. So, we asked “what else can we do to conserve this fish for future anglers, enthusiasts?”
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State Record, August 13, 2004151 lbs, 7’ 6”
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State Record, August 13, 2004151 lbs, 7’ 6”
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Natural Disturbances & Gar
• Drought or low rainfall since 1999.
• Increased fall salinities, reduced flows and water quality, increases or changes in vegetation.
• Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina result in fish kills.
• What are effects??
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Hurricanes & gar mortality?
• 2 weeks Post-Hurricane Ivan (9-16-04), surface D.O. levels in some Upper Delta sites were as low as 0.8 mg/L. Substantial fish kills occurred – large paddlefish > 30”.
• 1 week Post-Hurricane Katrina (8-29-05), surface D.O. levels were > 4.4 mg/L, but as low as 1.1 mg/L at depths of 1.5 to 3 m.
• NO DEAD Alligator gar, but…what if?
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Alligator gar & potential mortality
• Alligator gar are susceptible to both natural & fishing mortality.
• We can control fishing mortality using bag or length limits.
• BUT, we can’t control a natural disaster. What if climatic events result in a
negative effect on the population?
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Let’s make a plan!!!
• For ALL these reasons, we felt a conservation management plan was due.
• A DRAFT plan was developed in 2007.
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Management Plan - Goal
Conserve and enhance current population of Alligator gar for
increased angling opportunities in a unique Alabama fishery.
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Management Plan – Objective 1
1. Evaluate status of hatchery stock.
At MFH, currently holding 5 adult Alli-gar (131-165cm captured during 2005.
Six (6) Alli-gar captured March 3-April 5.
147.1 net-hours = 24.5 net-hours / Alli-gar
Capture at 16.2 - 18.9 C, late am, rising tide.
68.6 & 22.6m x 1.8m x 10.2cm bar multi.
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Management Plan – Objective 2
2. Collect additional brood stock Alli-gar.
1. Determine additional number needed?
a. Ensure adequate facilities for captive breeding & rearing program.
2. Develop techniques to increase sampling efficacy. Begin Spring 2008.
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Management Plan – Objective 3
3. Maintain brood-rearing population.
1. Is a brood population feasible? Consider routine care & spawning frequency…probably not annually.
2. Maintain larval & juvenile rearing
facilities until preferred stock-size.
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Management Plan – Objective 4
4. Establish Alligator gar stocking guideline.
1. Determine optimum size at stocking.
2. Determine preferred habitats forrestocking juvenile Alli-gar.
3. Determine water bodies stocked.
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Management Plan – Objective 5
5. Monitor Alligator gar populations.
1. Establish monitoring plan. a. Tag with PIT, OTC, FLOY?
2. Monitoring could involve cooperator anglers.
3. Identify Spawning-rearing habitats.
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Management Plan – Objective 6
6. Develop management guidelines
1. Institute trophy tag system? a. Mandatory report by all anglers.
2. Consider angler-based diary report?
3. Consider minimum size limit?
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Management Plan – Objective 7
7. Identify Habitat Restoration Projects.
1. What are “preferred” habitats?
2. Identify areas with spawning & rearing habitats.
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Conclusions
• ADWFF is concerned about Alligator Gar populations in Alabama.
• Conservation Management Plan work objectives should begin in 2008.
• ADWFF wants input to provide a plan with a high measure of success.