11-19-2009, 05:51 PM
RE:[#0000ff]"My personal opinion is that once the carp are reduced to a "manageable" number, the feds will start targeting white bass and other predators as a menace to the Junies. Right now the focus is on carp, but the predators are next in the crosshairs."
[/#0000ff]
The last ULFF meeting had some discussion on this. The data has shown that the main predator they are concerned about is the white bass. They have done some cost, benefit, and difficulty analyses of reducing the WB to a level that would be desirable. White bass present a different challenge if they were to go after them. While they do not live a long time at a size that predators can't consume, like carp, they reproduce so rapidly that one or two spawns will return their numbers from very low to very high levels within 1-2 years. We just saw that at UL after the drought. (where the wb went from being scarce to the current high numbers) The expected improved habitat also should allow all of the game species to improve their numbers rapidly, even more than what they do now. The presented data suggested that it may or may not be cost effective ( or ultimately important biologically )to go after them. The data is showing that walleyes and channel cats are apparently much less of a threat (surprisingly) and no plans are currently in the works to go after these species.
The data did show however, that the highest benefit would be obtained from dealing with the carp and thus we see what is being done.
[signature]
[/#0000ff]
The last ULFF meeting had some discussion on this. The data has shown that the main predator they are concerned about is the white bass. They have done some cost, benefit, and difficulty analyses of reducing the WB to a level that would be desirable. White bass present a different challenge if they were to go after them. While they do not live a long time at a size that predators can't consume, like carp, they reproduce so rapidly that one or two spawns will return their numbers from very low to very high levels within 1-2 years. We just saw that at UL after the drought. (where the wb went from being scarce to the current high numbers) The expected improved habitat also should allow all of the game species to improve their numbers rapidly, even more than what they do now. The presented data suggested that it may or may not be cost effective ( or ultimately important biologically )to go after them. The data is showing that walleyes and channel cats are apparently much less of a threat (surprisingly) and no plans are currently in the works to go after these species.
The data did show however, that the highest benefit would be obtained from dealing with the carp and thus we see what is being done.
[signature]