Calcasieu Relative Condition Factor Study 2012 Preliminary Results

[MathGeek]

We've wrapped up data collection for our 2012 Calcasieu Estuary relative condition factor study along with some preliminary analysis. The more detailed and definitive analysis will have to wait until we're back in Colorado and until the documents go through the public release process.

But it looks pretty clear that all four species (gafftop, specks, drum, redfish) we measured are significantly thinner than they were last year. Furthermore, specks, drum, and redfish are also thinner than the long term Louisiana average, and thinner than reported in the 2004 Jenkins study.

This tends to support the theory that relative to their food sources, the fish in the estuary are overpopulated.

We're headed to Grand Isle tomorrow to work on reducing the fish population in that neighborhood. Thanks to all the Salty Cajun members who assisted with our study. We had tons of help with sample collection, suggesting survey sites, and also some assistance weighing and measuring the fish.

I also want to give a plug to the Berkley FS-15 digital scale. We carefully check the calibration each time we use the scale and all three of our scales of this model are consistently within 1%. With our calibration adjustment, we end up with weight uncertainties below 0.3% for individual readings. Having had some scale failures last year, we brought several back-ups to LA, but we experienced no scale failures with this model. The 50 lb model we used for the bigger fish also performed well.