ThinkingAfield.org

As part of NOAA’s joint responsibility with U.S Fish and Wildlife Service for implementing the Endangered Species Act, we review whether species require protections under the Act.

We have completed a comprehensive status review and found a low risk of extinction for alewife and blueback herring throughout their range as well as for four alewife distinct population segments (DPS) and three blueback DPSs along the east coast of the United States.

After careful review of the status of both these species and of the identified DPSs, we have determined that listing alewife or blueback herring, or any of the seven identified DPSs under the Endangered Species Act as either threatened or endangered is not warranted at this time. Read more

Recreational fishing equipment is already subject to a unique 10% excise tax

Alexandria, VA – The American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) President, Glenn Hughes, along with many ASA members, made the case before the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that sportfishing equipment should be excluded from the next round of proposed tariffs on Chinese imports.

“We understand the position of the president regarding current trade relations with China and we support realigning the trade agreements to correct the unfair trade practices,” said Hughes. “However, we are deeply concerned about the impacts of these proposed tariffs on all the manufacturers who are already paying a unique excise tax of up to 10% to support sportfish restoration.”

On May 13, 2019, the administration proposed a list of approximately $300 billion in Chinese imports subject to Section 301 tariffs of up to 25%. This list of imports includes fishing equipment manufactured or sold by ASA’s members including fishing rods, hooks, reels, lines and many other necessary fishing equipment.

Today’s hearing before the USTR was an opportunity for the recreational sportfishing industry to make their case before the nation’s trade representatives that fishing equipment should be exempt from this new round of tariffs.

ASA members, including representatives from O. Mustad & Son, TackleDirect, Pure Fishing, ZEBCO Brands, Catch Co. and Big Rock Sports, provided testimony on the disproportionate economic harm these proposed tariffs could have on their bottom lines when this industry is already paying a unique 10% excise tax. Read more

BoatUS urges recreational boaters to be on watch for engine-killing E15;
send message to Congress and President to fix Renewable Fuel Standard

SPRINGFIELD, Va.– Over the objections of a wide coalition of American citizens and environmental, conservation, food producer, fuel retailer, taxpayer advocate, and outdoor recreation industry groups, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently waived Clean Air Act provisions and eliminated the three-and-a-half-month blackout period on the sale of E15 (15% ethanol) fuel during the summer months, permitting the fuel to be sold year-round.

The fuel had been banned at the pumps from June 1 to September 15 over concerns that it contributed to smog on hot days. As a result of EPA’s action, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters that they will need to be very cautious at the gas station to ensure they aren’t filling their boats with fuel that’s bad (and illegal) for boat engines. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

It’s hard to beat the taste of panfish such as bluegill. Catching them is a great way to introduce youngsters to fishing, because they are so prevalent in many of Michigan’s inland lakes. However, eating them should be done with regard to certain toxins, and accordingly, Michigan has produced a guide covering each county: Michigan Eat Safe Fish Guide.

What follows are some tips to minimize the consumption of contaminants and to actually help the populations of bluegills.

When you clean your fish, try trimming away as much of the fat as you can see. Some chemicals, like PCBs and dioxin, are stored in the fat. If you cut out the fat, you cut down on the chemicals in your fish. Just note, you can’t remove mercury from your fish by trimming, because it is stored in the meat of the fish.

Not only is grilling or broiling fish healthier than frying, it also helps to get rid of more chemical-carrying fat. When a fish is cooked on a grate, any fat hiding inside the filet can melt and drip away from the fish. This removes even more of those harmful chemicals.

Avoid larger fish – especially predatory fish, because they have concentrated amounts of toxins; smaller fish are typically younger and will have accumulated less, if any, contaminants.

If you’ve found that many of the bluegills in a particular body of water are under-size, you can help to balance the natural ecosystem by either releasing the larger ones or simply not targeting them while they are on their beds in nesting colonies.

The Minnesota DNR offers the following advice and it certainly applies to us in Michigan, as well.

To protect big sunfish and avoid stunted populations of sunfish, it is best for anglers to release large sunfish, and keep smaller fish for eating.

Sunfish spawn in large nesting colonies during the spring and early summer. Parental male sunfish build and defend nests. Females will select a male, lay eggs, and leave them for the male to protect and fan with his fins. These nest-building male sunfish play an important role in repopulation with the largest sunfish often getting the best spawning sites.

When anglers keep only the largest sunfish, which are usually males guarding nests, the remaining small males don’t need to compete with larger males to spawn. Instead of growing, they devote their energy to spawning at younger ages and smaller sizes.

Spawning sunfish are particularly prone to over harvest because they are very aggressive while defending a nest. Anglers can help by releasing spawning sunfish, especially large, nesting males. Released fish have a high survival rate and will typically return to their nests to complete the spawning cycle.

“To maintain a high quality fishery, it’s important that anglers, guides and resort owners, all understand the important role these large nesting fish play, and that we all work together to exercise a conservation ethic that ensures these fish thrive,” said fisheries supervisor Dave Weitzel.

This is good advice that will not only promote a better fishery, but will keep us safer from hidden and tasteless chemicals.