Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Alexandria, VA – President Obama has announced a vast expansion of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, known as Papahanaumokuakea, out to 200 miles or the limits of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, creating the world’s largest marine protected area. In 2006, President George W. Bush created the monument with a boundary which extended to 50 miles and excluded recreational fishing.
The new Presidential Proclamation moves to conserve the physical and living marine resources within the Monument’s waters. All commercial resource extraction activities including commercial fishing, oil exploration and mineral extraction are prohibited in the expanded areas. Read more
A new fish virus has been found in Pine Lake in Wisconsin’s Forest County.
The virus was identified in dead largemouth bass that were collected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) during an investigation into a May 2015 fish kill.
The virus’s genome was sequenced at a “virus hunting laboratory” operated by Tony Goldberg in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
The pathogen, according to Mr Goldberg, is new to science and has been dubbed largemouth bass reovirus. Read more
“We experienced outstanding spring and summer stocking seasons that will bring significant benefits and fishing opportunities to Michigan anglers,” said DNR Fish Production Manager Ed Eisch. “With the hard work and dedication of our staff, fish were reared and delivered to stocking sites in excellent condition. The numbers produced and stocked were right on target for almost all areas.” Read more
The Department of Natural Resources is preparing to conduct its annual hydro-acoustic (sonar) and mid-water trawl survey of alewives and other prey fishes in Lake Michigan this month to determine the status of these key components of the Lake Michigan ecosystem.
The survey is conducted on board the DNR’s Survey Vessel (S/V) Steelhead, based out of Charlevoix, in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center’s R/V Arcticus. The survey is done at night starting in mid-August and usually takes about three weeks to complete.
Once completed, estimates of total prey fish abundance are used by fisheries managers in balancing predator-prey dynamics. Managers adjust fish-stocking rates to keep alewife abundance in balance with lake productivity levels.
Read more
Measuring 18 feet, 8 inches, with a 100-inch beam, the 1880MS is rated for 200 horsepower and available with a wide range of precision-matched, factory-rigged outboards. Designed for a variety of applications, the 1880MS is home to both southern bass fisheries and the big waters of the Great Lakes and upper Midwest. Read more
DNR’s newest research vessel features unique technology to learn more about Lake Huron fish populations
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to be used on R/V Tanner
This month the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will begin assessing Lake Huron fisheries with the latest addition to its Great Lakes large vessel fleet – the R/V Tanner. Read more
What is most ironic about Ashe’s public affirmation of HSUS is that HSUS has made common practice of suing the USFWS and the Department of Interior. Those legal actions have consistently derailed USFWS management authority, cost the agencies untold millions of dollars, consumed precious human capital and stolen resources better spent on conservation of habitat and species. HSUS has not been a stakeholder in USFWS work. HSUS has committed no money, no time, nor advocacy to supporting the USFWS’s conservation mission and mandate. Read more