blake
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From the Iowa DNR :
Clear Lake Research Project Searches for Carp Solution
By Lowell Washburn
Fishing turned profitable at Cerro Gordo County's Clear Lake last week as contract commercial fishermen netted and removed more than 20 tons of rough fish from north central Iowa's largest and most important fishery. But before the corralled pests were officially evicted from the lake, biologists took time to examine each and every fish to see if they still contained all their natural parts. More specifically, fisheries workers were looking for missing fins.
Late last May, researchers working with Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources were successful in capturing a "control group" of 3,000 adult carp. After being permanently marked by the removal of a single swim fin, the fish were released back into Clear Lake to rejoin their marauding comrades. The aim of the cooperative joint venture is to enable scientists to establish a reliable population estimate of how many rough fish actually exist in Clear Lake.
Although the idea of releasing thousands of undesirable fish back into Clear Lake may at first seem appalling, down the road it could pay dividends in terms of overall water quality enhancement as well as in the improvement of angling success for walleye and other popular game fish.
Of all the foreign pests to invade American waters, none have been more successful or created more havoc than the common carp. Highly adaptable and extremely prolific, individual females lay up to a half million eggs each June. Carp uproot desirable aquatic vegetation, suspend sediments, and cloud water. In the process of lowering water quality in Iowa lakes and rivers, carp also inflict incalculable damage to valuable sport fisheries. It is hoped that Clear Lake's ongoing carp study will provide insight on controlling rough fish populations across the state.
During follow up, large scale netting operations -- such as last week's haul -- biologists record the number of marked [fin clipped] fish recaptured and then compare it to the total number of carp netted. The DNR hopes to utilize commercial fishing activities to put enough netting pressure on rough fish to significantly impact future populations. Once actual rough fish numbers are known, biologists can better gauge the project's success.
On this go round fin clipped "control" carp weren't as fortunate as they were last May. This time, instead of being released back into Clear Lake, the scaly bottom feeders were loaded and trucked to New York City fish markets where they'll soon be converted to frozen patties.
TURN IN POACHERS!
TIP
