We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Montana is justifiably known for the quality, abundance and diversity of its fisheries. Unfortunately, a small and arrogant group of people feel they are entitled to the fish they want, where they want and many of Montana’s best fisheries are now damaged or threatened by illegal fish introductions. Fish introductions are not inherently bad, many of Montana’s most famous fisheries are based on introduced species. Many of Montana’s native species are being re-introduced back into historic habitat once limiting factors are removed. However, even the best-planned introductions can backfire. When illegal fish introductions are made without proper biological analysis or public input the results can be catastrophic.
How big is the problem? Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has documented more than 600 illegal fish introductions into nearly 300 waters in Montana. There isn’t a corner of the state untouched and more than 50 fish species have been moved. The result is usually the same to all of us as anglers – reduced fishing opportunity and increased costs.
All waters are at carrying capacity. A new species can only be added by reducing an existing species. Out of the 600 introductions mentioned above, only two resulted in increased sport fishing opportunity. Sadly, many times the outcome is the opposite, the new species stunts out or performs poorly while existing fisheries are similarly diminished. The impacts are usually permanent and irreversible. Impacted waters may require more or larger stocked fish from an already over-capacity state hatchery system, reducing fish available for other waters. Native fish are pushed out. Increased management requires more funding, your license dollars, to try to recover fisheries rather than improving them. Illegal fish may also introduce disease, change genetics or, in some cases, impact water quality.
The public is rightfully concerned about fish diseases and aquatic invasive species. Now we need to raise the profile of illegal fish introductions. We are all united in our concern over this problem. Now we are asking for your support to highlight and fight this harmful practice.
Our goal is to get the support of every major angling group in the state to underscore the opposition of ethical and law-abiding anglers to illegal fish introductions. We hope this will educate the public about this problem and persuade some anglers to not move fish. We will use this united front to encourage increased publicity, management, enforcement and penalties. A handful of individuals have been cited and convicted to date, mostly through citizen tips. Persons reporting illegal introductions can remain anonymous and be eligible for TIPMONT rewards up to $1,000. Thanks to the commitment of the groups listed below, the reward fund pledges, including TIPMONT, now total more than $25,000. This includes Montana Trout Unlimited’s commitment offering up to $10,000 for arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for illegal fish introductions in Montana. The MTU pledge increases to $20,000 for the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for planting walleyes in Noxon Rapids Reservoir and Swan Lake or smallmouth bass in Seeley Lake. We hope those large rewards underscore the seriousness of the problem and serves as a deterrent to those contemplating illegally moving fish.
For more information on this resolution or on illegal fish introductions, please contact MWF Board Member Jim Vashro at (406) 270-9914, 0r jsjvash@montanasky.us.
