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Inshore Saltwater Fishing Discussion Discuss inshore fishing, tackle, and tactics here! |
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#1
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Report Available Relating Fish Condition and Primary Production to Calcasieu Oysters
Main findings are: *Fish condition is significantly correlated with oyster stock assessments for black drum, gafftop catfish, and longer length classes of red drum. Spotted sea trout condition is not positively correlated with oyster stock assessments. *Available data does not support the hypothesis that limited weir closures needed to protect the marsh from saltwater intrusion reduce fish condition. *Oyster stock assessments are significantly correlated with primary production in nearshore Gulf waters. This suggests that oysters not only increase production in Calcasieu Estuary itself, but that filtering effects and exchange of water between the Estuary and nearshore Gulf result in oysters benefitting production in nearshore waters up to 100 km from the Estuary. Correlation coefficients between oyster stocks and primary production for regions studied are shown in the attached map. |
#2
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Not criticizing this important work you are doing but isn't measuring just 250 fish a year from such a large body of water a very small sample size to be statistically valid?
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#3
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In most cases the small uncertainties in relative condition factors yielded p-values below 0.001, indicating good statistical significance. (See table 2 in the paper.) |
#4
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So what next?
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#5
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We've sent the report to LDWF and other Gulf region scientists for their review and consideration. We believe the results strengthen the case to protect oysters due to their valuable ecosystem services that enhance primary production and fish condition. Hopefully, conservation groups like CCA will take notice and begin working harder to protect existing oyster reefs and restore oyster reefs in Louisiana.
We're limited in our manpower, but a few ideas we are considering as far as moving the science forward are: * Study correlations of oyster stocks and primary production in other areas of the Louisiana coast. * Use annual otolith deposition widths as a historical record to determine high-growth years and low-growth years and see how this correlates with oyster stock assessments and other factors that may impact growth and condition of finfish. * Extend the study to a 5th and possibly a 6th year. Each additional year of data increases confidence in discerning causal factors from confounding factors. * Look for correlations between oyster stock assessments and other water quality metrics like fecal coliform. Does anyone know of good contacts at LA DEQ or DHH who might share their water quality data? Showing that oysters improve water quality would provide an fishery independent line of reasoning to more carefully protect oyster reefs. |
#6
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Best of luck to ya bud. I'd love to see the dredging stop.
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#7
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MG, you do a lot of good work to help protect our resources. Thanks
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#8
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Anyone that has an interest in protecting the resource should step up and do something. |
#9
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If one happens to be on good terms with legislators, this is an issue that can be broached with them as well. I also expect there will be a meeting late in 2015 where the LWC sets the 2016 rules and restrictions for oyster harvest in Big Lake. This is not a meeting to pound your fist and demand dredging be stopped, but a calm an informed voice explaining your concerns for the long term health of the estuary would help balance the voices of those who profit from overuse of the oyster resource. The oyster lobby has a lot of clout and momentum, but a steady voice over time should change the LWC's view of oysters from a resource to be exploited to a keystone species for estuary health and fisheries production. |
#10
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#11
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Did I make assumptions about you? Don't think so. I made a general statement.
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#12
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Just finished reading my copy. Very interesting, and very informative. It was nice to read data backed info and analysis.
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#13
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X10. Very good read for sure. We need this kind of analysis to be ongoing.
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#14
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I think I've completed the emails to the requesters so far. So if I missed you in error, please PM another request and include your email address. Thanks!
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#15
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#16
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Math geek, I talked to a biologist doing a creel survey the other day that told me that LDWF has 7 gill nets placed through the estuary and that 5 of them are checked randomly each week. They fish retrieved are autopsied and documented. I had no idea they did that and didn't know if that buy was pulling my leg. Seems like a report generated from that kinda research would be a pretty useful to a lot of us. Was this guy messing with me? If not, is that something they publish or is it confidential?
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#17
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Angler creel surveys have their place but a gillnet does not have any bias. It catches everything and gets a true representative sample and not just fish that are susceptible to being caught by rod and reel. That is why you don't see a biologist sitting at calcasieu point everyday checking what people caught. They sample by more efficient means |
#18
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Gill Nets
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#19
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LDWF gathers harvest data on turkeys and deer, but they do no release a report every year with that information. For example, Jimmy Stafford told me they try to release a WMA turkey harvest report every 5 years. |
#20
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The guy I talked to was at the launch at Prien Park on a day that no one in their right mind should have been fishing. It was 3 or so in the afternoon and I was the first person he questioned all day.I had only run up to the park to pick up a pack of cigarettes from the store across the street on my way to the casino. We had caught like 2 trout in turners that morning so he did his survey and thats when he told me about their study. He told me that the net in Prien had far more trout than any other one he checked for the last couple of weeks. Which surprised the hell out of me. the water temp was in the mid 50's and the river was at flood stage and fresh as hell. We ended up picking up a few off the ship channel after we left but I would have never thought to fish there on that day in those conditions. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I think it would be great to have that kinda timely info available. Especially in a year like last year where the long cold winter screwed up the normal pattern.
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