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Another of Northern California's native fish could become contraband for anglers next year as officials mull more drastic steps to protect wildlife amid a growing water crisis.
The California Department of Fish and Game proposes a ban on sturgeon fishing in more than 80 miles of the Sacramento River, between Redding and Butte City.
This has never been done before, and the prohibition appears likely to join the ongoing ban on salmon fishing as another unfortunate first.
Sturgeon don't enjoy the celebrity status of salmon but are a major sporting attraction because no other freshwater fish matches their size: Some sturgeon exceed 6 feet in length and 300 pounds.
The goal of the closure is to protect green sturgeon, one of the world's oldest living fish species. A distinct subpopulation that breeds in the Central Valley joined the federal Endangered Species List in 2006 as "threatened."
Since then, green sturgeon fishing has been allowed only for catch-and-release. It has remained legal to keep white sturgeon – an even bigger relative that's not imperiled.
Because anglers use similar gear and tactics for both species, the state now proposes to ban all sturgeon fishing on a stretch of the Sacramento River that is important habitat for green sturgeon.
"I think it's pretty asinine," said Richard Peeples, owner of the Tackle Box fishing store in Chico. "It's going to hurt us just like every little thing they take from us hurts us. They make a closure and they never open anything up."
The problem, said Fish and Game environmental scientist Steve Baumgartner, is some anglers continue to target green sturgeon simply for thrills. He and other experts fear this will harm the species.
"You can definitely harm a big species like that by repeatedly catching and releasing it, exhausting it and so forth," Baumgartner said. "It's more and more evident our protections have been inadequate to this point."
The proposed closure area contains habitat believed to be more important for green sturgeon than for white sturgeon. It contains a number of deep holes, known to fishermen, where green sturgeon rest on their upstream spawning run.
The goal, said Baumgartner, is to create a refuge for green sturgeon. Other species could still be caught in the closed area, such as striped bass. Elsewhere, white sturgeon could still be caught and catch-and-release of green sturgeon will still be allowed.
In data gathered from survey cards returned by anglers last year, about half of all green sturgeon caught in the Central Valley were caught in the proposed closure area.
"We're trying not to impact the white sturgeon anglers while protecting the green sturgeon," Baumgartner said.
Sturgeon are one of numerous species harmed by the state's water infrastructure.
The giant fish once spawned far up into the Pit River on the flanks of Mount Shasta. Completion of Shasta Dam ended that in 1945. Yet legal battles continue as regulators walk a tightrope to protect wildlife and simultaneously provide enough water for a thirsty state.
The National Marine Fisheries Service this year imposed new flow rules in the Sacramento River to protect sturgeon and salmon. Water agencies promptly challenged these rules in federal court.
Anglers like Peeples say white sturgeon are common in the proposed closure area, and being unable to catch them will be a hardship.
A better strategy, he said, would be to close fishing only when green sturgeon are usually present – typically late summer and fall. White sturgeon, in contrast, are usually in the river in late winter.
Lots of his customers want to keep catching white sturgeon because it's great to eat. Many also make their own caviar from sturgeon roe.
In comparison, Peeples called green sturgeon a "trash fish" no one wants to keep because it isn't as tasty. Yet he agreed that some anglers continue to fish green sturgeon just for the thrill.
"I've heard of people going out and hammering the green sturgeon," Peeples said.
Bob Boucke, owner of Johnson's Bait & Tackle in Yuba City, said Fish and Game should simply step up its enforcement to prevent anglers from targeting green sturgeon. This could also help control sturgeon poaching for a caviar black market that has proliferated in recent years.
"It's because a few people insist on catching the green sturgeon," Boucke said. "They've been told not to do that and they just keep on doing it. They're catching great big fish and having a good ol' time."
More...
The California Department of Fish and Game proposes a ban on sturgeon fishing in more than 80 miles of the Sacramento River, between Redding and Butte City.
This has never been done before, and the prohibition appears likely to join the ongoing ban on salmon fishing as another unfortunate first.
Sturgeon don't enjoy the celebrity status of salmon but are a major sporting attraction because no other freshwater fish matches their size: Some sturgeon exceed 6 feet in length and 300 pounds.
The goal of the closure is to protect green sturgeon, one of the world's oldest living fish species. A distinct subpopulation that breeds in the Central Valley joined the federal Endangered Species List in 2006 as "threatened."
Since then, green sturgeon fishing has been allowed only for catch-and-release. It has remained legal to keep white sturgeon – an even bigger relative that's not imperiled.
Because anglers use similar gear and tactics for both species, the state now proposes to ban all sturgeon fishing on a stretch of the Sacramento River that is important habitat for green sturgeon.
"I think it's pretty asinine," said Richard Peeples, owner of the Tackle Box fishing store in Chico. "It's going to hurt us just like every little thing they take from us hurts us. They make a closure and they never open anything up."
The problem, said Fish and Game environmental scientist Steve Baumgartner, is some anglers continue to target green sturgeon simply for thrills. He and other experts fear this will harm the species.
"You can definitely harm a big species like that by repeatedly catching and releasing it, exhausting it and so forth," Baumgartner said. "It's more and more evident our protections have been inadequate to this point."
The proposed closure area contains habitat believed to be more important for green sturgeon than for white sturgeon. It contains a number of deep holes, known to fishermen, where green sturgeon rest on their upstream spawning run.
The goal, said Baumgartner, is to create a refuge for green sturgeon. Other species could still be caught in the closed area, such as striped bass. Elsewhere, white sturgeon could still be caught and catch-and-release of green sturgeon will still be allowed.
In data gathered from survey cards returned by anglers last year, about half of all green sturgeon caught in the Central Valley were caught in the proposed closure area.
"We're trying not to impact the white sturgeon anglers while protecting the green sturgeon," Baumgartner said.
Sturgeon are one of numerous species harmed by the state's water infrastructure.
The giant fish once spawned far up into the Pit River on the flanks of Mount Shasta. Completion of Shasta Dam ended that in 1945. Yet legal battles continue as regulators walk a tightrope to protect wildlife and simultaneously provide enough water for a thirsty state.
The National Marine Fisheries Service this year imposed new flow rules in the Sacramento River to protect sturgeon and salmon. Water agencies promptly challenged these rules in federal court.
Anglers like Peeples say white sturgeon are common in the proposed closure area, and being unable to catch them will be a hardship.
A better strategy, he said, would be to close fishing only when green sturgeon are usually present – typically late summer and fall. White sturgeon, in contrast, are usually in the river in late winter.
Lots of his customers want to keep catching white sturgeon because it's great to eat. Many also make their own caviar from sturgeon roe.
In comparison, Peeples called green sturgeon a "trash fish" no one wants to keep because it isn't as tasty. Yet he agreed that some anglers continue to fish green sturgeon just for the thrill.
"I've heard of people going out and hammering the green sturgeon," Peeples said.
Bob Boucke, owner of Johnson's Bait & Tackle in Yuba City, said Fish and Game should simply step up its enforcement to prevent anglers from targeting green sturgeon. This could also help control sturgeon poaching for a caviar black market that has proliferated in recent years.
"It's because a few people insist on catching the green sturgeon," Boucke said. "They've been told not to do that and they just keep on doing it. They're catching great big fish and having a good ol' time."
More...
