Reference | Heinricher, J. O. and F. C. Fiss. 1996. MICRA national paddlefish research 1995 interim report. Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association, P.O. Box 774, Bettendorf, IA 52722-0774. |
Abstract | The Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association (MICRA) planned, organized, and initiated a long-term multi-state, multi-jurisdictional paddlefish study to assess the condition of paddlefish stocks throughout the Mississippi River Basin. In just ten months MICRA has successfully completed multiple tasks in order to provide the first interim report of this important national paddlefish research project. MICRA participants tagged and released 2,169 wild paddlefish and over 200,000 hatchery reared paddlefish into the basin’s rivers by the end of 1995. A total of 4,128 rostrum were collected by MICRA cooperators. Of these fish 182 (4.4%) were tagged with Coded Wire Tags. Thirty-four of these tags were actual MICRA tags that had been placed in wild paddlefish in 1995. Some of the tags recovered (142) originated from hatchery releases between 1988 and 1994. Movement data though cursory, showed that two of these hatchery fish had moved approximately 550 miles from where they were originally released only one year earlier. This report summarized the projects first year’s efforts, and is therefore inconclusive. Data collection for this project occurs daily so figures and totals of tagged and recaptured fish are continually changing. Much of the first year’s effort was devoted to planning, organizing, standardizing, and field training. Project cooperators participate on differing levels, accommodating both existing programs within their own states and participating beyond their borders on a basin-wide scale for the overall benefit of the resource. The first paddlefish tagged and released for this project was in early 1995 at a meeting in Iowa where numerous state and federal biologists gathered to train for the study. The spirit of cooperation shown that day was to set the tone for the tasks that lie ahead. This unprecedented, cooperative project will undoubtedly help states and agencies better manage their natural resources, and enhance cooperation across borders. Thus beginning the process of decompartmentalizing our river resource management. Hopefully, though the cooperation and jurisdictional management techniques set forth here, we can begin to learn the most effective processes required for big river management. Ultimately, we may find new ways to enhance and protect our fishery resources and insure the future of the fishery throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Let this project stand as a guide for building the road maps required for the unique type of interjurisdictional management. |
Tag | Coded Wire Tag (CWT) |
Objective | Evaluate stocking programs |