Title: Catch-and-Release Management of a Trout Stream Contaminated with PCBs
Abstract: Due to health risks associated with PCB contamination, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection chose to apply catch-and-release regulations to the Housatonic River, which had previously supported one of the most popular put-and-take trout fisheries in Connecticut. The management change was successful in maintaining a highly rated recreational fishery. Stocked brown trout Salmo trutta survived up to five summers and grew to maximum total lengths of about 400 mm. Through 5 years, fish stocked as adults (254–305 mm) and yearlings (152–229 mm) had average annual survivals of 39 and 42%, respectively. Survival of fingerlings (< 152 mm) averaged 22%. With holdover trout present after the first year of catch-and-release management, 50-66% of the fish caught by anglers exceeded the maximum length of 305 mm of trout stocked for put-and-take purposes in other Connecticut streams. Also, an average of 38% more trout by number and 210% more trout by weight were caught and released than were stocked. The catch-and-release fishery supported continuous utilization and high catch rates throughout the fishing season. Anglers who kept diaries while fishing under catch-and-release management had significantly greater catch rates after May than did those fishing the same area under previous put-and-take conditions. These results suggest that catch-and-release management may be used to maintain popular, high-catch-rate trout fisheries in streams where contamination levels are a risk to human health but have no serious direct or indirect effects on fish.
Publication Year: 1990
Publication Date: 1990-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 6
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