TY - JOUR
T1 - The status of coldwater fishery management in the United States
T2 - An overview of state programs
AU - Epifanio, John
N1 - Funding Information:
The administrators and managers from the participating states provided the information contained within-their time and effort are appreciated. I also thank Whit Fosburgh, Charles Gauvin, Daniel Hayes, John Loomis, Joe McGurrin, Steve Moyer, Peter Rafle, Roger Sorensen, Spencer Turner, and Robert Wiley for comments on earlier drafts. Funding for this project was provided by the Munson, Weedon, Packard, and Education Foundations to Trout Unlimited.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2000/7
Y1 - 2000/7
N2 - In 1996, fishery administrators from every U.S. state were surveyed about an array of coldwater management topics ranging from the composition of coldwater fishery resources, to threats facing resources, to expertise and strategies employed by the agency. Administrators in 49 states returned completed surveys and provided information on the general challenges facing coldwater fishery resources and the conditions under which these resources are managed. For example, 47 states managed coldwater fisheries. Of these, 38 cited habitat-related problems as the most commonly identified obstacles to maintaining self-sustaining trout or salmon populations. Yet in spite of this observation, funding for aquatic habitat programs through fishery management agencies was generally but a fraction of their budgets. In contrast, the states cumulatively operated 369 coldwater hatcheries, which consumed sizable portions of their annual budgets, and licensed an additional 1,200 private coldwater facilities nationwide. Twelve states had assessed the environmental impacts and 11 states the economic impacts of their facilities. In terms of resource planning, 25 states managed coldwater resources under the umbrella of a strategic plan, and 10 managed on an ecosystem-or watershed-based approach. Ultimately, these and other facts suggest a misalignment between the problems facing many coldwater fisheries and management programs in use by some state agencies to counter these problems. This disconnect is likely due to a mix of our profession's institutional history, the way agencies are funded, and public expectation; therefore, overcoming this disconnect will require an objective presentation of facts and open dialogue among professionals and stakeholders regarding management goals and the tools used to reach these goals.
AB - In 1996, fishery administrators from every U.S. state were surveyed about an array of coldwater management topics ranging from the composition of coldwater fishery resources, to threats facing resources, to expertise and strategies employed by the agency. Administrators in 49 states returned completed surveys and provided information on the general challenges facing coldwater fishery resources and the conditions under which these resources are managed. For example, 47 states managed coldwater fisheries. Of these, 38 cited habitat-related problems as the most commonly identified obstacles to maintaining self-sustaining trout or salmon populations. Yet in spite of this observation, funding for aquatic habitat programs through fishery management agencies was generally but a fraction of their budgets. In contrast, the states cumulatively operated 369 coldwater hatcheries, which consumed sizable portions of their annual budgets, and licensed an additional 1,200 private coldwater facilities nationwide. Twelve states had assessed the environmental impacts and 11 states the economic impacts of their facilities. In terms of resource planning, 25 states managed coldwater resources under the umbrella of a strategic plan, and 10 managed on an ecosystem-or watershed-based approach. Ultimately, these and other facts suggest a misalignment between the problems facing many coldwater fisheries and management programs in use by some state agencies to counter these problems. This disconnect is likely due to a mix of our profession's institutional history, the way agencies are funded, and public expectation; therefore, overcoming this disconnect will require an objective presentation of facts and open dialogue among professionals and stakeholders regarding management goals and the tools used to reach these goals.
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U2 - 10.1577/1548-8446(2000)025<0013:TSOCFM>2.0.CO;2
DO - 10.1577/1548-8446(2000)025<0013:TSOCFM>2.0.CO;2
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0034215154
SN - 0363-2415
VL - 25
SP - 13
EP - 27
JO - Fisheries
JF - Fisheries
IS - 7
ER -