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Kevin
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« on: March 03, 2011, 07:56:23 PM » |
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CRISIS IN OUR HATCHERIES
BY JOHN BERRY
Here in Arkansas we enjoy one of the best and most respected trout fisheries in the United States, or the world for that matter. There are no trout native to Arkansas. Our trout fishery is an artificial one that is based on an aggressive stocking program. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks approximately one and a half million trout per year. Almost all of these trout are obtained from the National Fish Hatcheries at Norfork and Greer’s Ferry. Years ago, when the Corps of Engineers constructed Norfork, Bull Shoals and Greer’s Ferry Dams, they destroyed world class smallmouth bass fisheries. The water to run the generators is drawn from a cold water level at the bottom of the lake and when discharged into the river below the dam is too frigid for the smallmouth to handle. This loss was to be mitigated by the introduction of stocked trout that would flourish in the cold water.
In the current budget proposal from the Obama administration, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), an agency under the Department of Interior, has severely cut funding for the mitigation hatcheries for which the USFWS has responsibility. The National Fish Hatchery at Norfork and Greer’s Ferry are included in these cuts. Under the current situation both could face closure or a severe cutback in its operating budget.
This would have a disastrous effect on our economy. Our trout streams are managed as a put and take fisheries. We have regulations that allow for an aggressive harvest. Most trout are removed within ninety days of being stocked. In order to maintain this level of harvest, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks approximately year round. If we were to face the closure or a severe cutback in the numbers of trout we receive from the Federal hatcheries, we would be unable to support the fishery we now have. There is too much fishing pressure and too many trout are removed on a daily basis to maintain the world class fishery we now enjoy. This would trigger a severe decline in the tourism business that the Twin Lakes Area depends on. It is not just the trout guides that would suffer but the trout dock operators, bait shop and fly shop owners, restaurateurs, motel and gas station owners and grocery stores to name a few. Our tourism has already taken a severe hit from a tough economy and several high water years.
How could we lose the hatcheries if they were built to mitigate the loss of a world class smallmouth bass fishery? The problem is that the Corps of Engineers has responsibility for the mitigation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has responsibility for the mitigation hatcheries. The USFWS is also responsible for operating wildlife refuges like Sanibel Island and is not as interested in running mitigation hatcheries. The tried to get out of the hatchery business in 1995, which was the last time we suffered through this crisis. The Corps of Engineers has either resisted transferring budgeted funds to the USFWS to run the mitigation hatcheries or has transferred smaller amounts than necessary for their complete funding.
During the last few years of rapid growth in the federal budget, the mitigation hatcheries have not fared well. With the increased demands to decrease the budget due to pressures brought about by our deficits, we can only expect the hatchery budget crisis to get worse in the future. Toward that end many local anglers banded together to form the Friends of the Norfork Fish Hatchery to lobby for the hatchery. I support their efforts.
I have come to the decision that the answer to the problem is not to rely on the federal government. There will always be budgetary problems and I don’t think that the bureaucrats in Washington care the least bit about the fishing in Arkansas. I believe that our Senators and Congressmen know about the situation and care about our economy. The problem is that there are a lot of interests fighting for a rapidly reducing pot of money. The answer is in Arkansas.
Why shouldn’t the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AG&FC) take over the operation of the National Fish Hatcheries at Norfork and Greer’s Ferry? We are one of the few states that has a balanced budget. The USFWS is eager to get rid of this responsibility and should willingly donate the hatcheries to the state. The AG&FC currently operates a trout hatchery on the Spring River and does a fine job with that.
The state could fund this responsibility by increasing the cost of the trout stamp. That way the entire cost of the operation of the hatcheries would be borne by the anglers that receive the direct benefit from it. To achieve the funding necessary the cost of the trout stamp would have to be roughly doubled. The cost of the trout stamp for residents would be increased from five dollars to ten. The cost of a non resident trout stamp would increase from twelve dollars to twenty four. As a no kill guide I would certainly be willing to pay the increased cost and I believe my clients would as well.
The future of our trout fishery and our financial well being are too valuable to be subject to the vagaries of the federal budget. We need to move the responsibility for these hatcheries to Arkansas where we understand just how important they are to our economy.
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