Mud Snails plague E. Sierra Hatchery
The Department of Fish and Game has discovered New Zealand Mud Snails at its Hot Creek Hatchery, which could affect the department’s trout distribution in the Eastern Sierras this year.
NZMS, which reproduce rapidly and can crowd out native insects that aquatic wildlife depend upon for survival, were found Dec. 29, 2006, in samples collected from the spring that supplies water to the primary production ponds for the hatchery.
DFG reports it will allow an estimated 515,000 fish from Hot Creek Hatchery to be planted only into waters that have been surveyed and are NZMS positive, such as the Owens River, Crowley Lake and Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
Officials are also developing strategies to improve the infrastructure and operations to contain the spread of NZMS within and outside of Hot Creek Hatchery.
“The Governor and the Legislature made a commitment to enhance angling opportunities through the passage of AB 7,” said DFG Director Ryan Broddrick. “The Department, in turn, is committed to meeting its fish-stocking obligations and the detection of New Zealand Mud Snails in Hot Creek Hatchery will not deter us from carrying out that responsibility.”
AB 7 added Section 13007 to the California Fish and Game Code in 2006 and requires DFG to deposit one-third of sport fishing license fees in the Hatchery and Inland Fisheries Fund (HIFF).
“We will be able to use some fish from other hatcheries to help ensure quality recreational sport fishing opportunities in the Eastern Sierra while we carefully address the ramifications of the unfortunate presence of New Zealand Mud Snails in Hot Creek Hatchery,” said William Cox, DFG Program Manager, Fish Production and Distribution.
NZMS are believed to be spread within North America primarily by anglers who fish an infested area, then leave the area without cleaning their waders and other fishing gear. The snails will often get stuck to debris and mud left on waders and can survive for weeks in the moist conditions. When the angler visits a new stream snails can deposit there. NZMS, which can grow as large as one-quarter inch but are often much smaller, are parthenogenic, which means that they are able to start a new population with one snail.
NZMS, which reproduce rapidly and can crowd out native insects that aquatic wildlife depend upon for survival, were found Dec. 29, 2006, in samples collected from the spring that supplies water to the primary production ponds for the hatchery.
DFG reports it will allow an estimated 515,000 fish from Hot Creek Hatchery to be planted only into waters that have been surveyed and are NZMS positive, such as the Owens River, Crowley Lake and Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
Officials are also developing strategies to improve the infrastructure and operations to contain the spread of NZMS within and outside of Hot Creek Hatchery.
“The Governor and the Legislature made a commitment to enhance angling opportunities through the passage of AB 7,” said DFG Director Ryan Broddrick. “The Department, in turn, is committed to meeting its fish-stocking obligations and the detection of New Zealand Mud Snails in Hot Creek Hatchery will not deter us from carrying out that responsibility.”
AB 7 added Section 13007 to the California Fish and Game Code in 2006 and requires DFG to deposit one-third of sport fishing license fees in the Hatchery and Inland Fisheries Fund (HIFF).
“We will be able to use some fish from other hatcheries to help ensure quality recreational sport fishing opportunities in the Eastern Sierra while we carefully address the ramifications of the unfortunate presence of New Zealand Mud Snails in Hot Creek Hatchery,” said William Cox, DFG Program Manager, Fish Production and Distribution.
NZMS are believed to be spread within North America primarily by anglers who fish an infested area, then leave the area without cleaning their waders and other fishing gear. The snails will often get stuck to debris and mud left on waders and can survive for weeks in the moist conditions. When the angler visits a new stream snails can deposit there. NZMS, which can grow as large as one-quarter inch but are often much smaller, are parthenogenic, which means that they are able to start a new population with one snail.
— From a DFG press release
posted by BSlim at
3:11 PM
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