Welcome to our blog series, Research Highlights! Each month, we debut newly published fisheries research by our women of fisheries colleagues. If you have research you would like to highlight and share with our readers, submit a nomination form!
This Month’s Research Highlight:
Special Issue: Catfish 2020, Communicating Catfish Science: Proceedings of the Third International Catfish Symposium, North American Journal of Fisheries Management 41 (S1). doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10695
We’re doing something a little different this month. We’re not just featuring one paper but a suite of papers by women in fisheries who contributed their research to the 2020 International Catfish Symposium, the third symposium of its kind. During this three-day symposium in Little Rock, Arkansas, 74 oral and 17 poster presentations were given to nearly 200 fisheries professionals from across the United States and world. From these, 38 manuscripts were peer reviewed and published as part of a recent special issue in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management in October 2021. Here, we highlight five of these papers with personal insight from leading women in catfish science.
Lead author: Jennifer L. Johnson, Fish Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Co-authors: Justin A. Chiotti, Andrew S. Briggs, James C. Boase, Jan-Michael Hessenauer, and Edward F. Roseman
Title: Northern Madtom Use of Artificial Reefs in the St. Clair–Detroit River System
doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10614
Jennifer Johnson and her team evaluated the use of artificial spawning reefs by Northern Madtom Noturus stigmosus in the St. Clair and Detroit rivers between 2016 and 2018. Threatened by habitat destruction, this species is considered endangered in both Michigan and Ontario where the study took place. The deep-water spawning reefs are composed of limestone and cobble. Although originally intended for other species, it was believed they could also serve as useful spawning habitat for this species. The results of this study provides insight into the use of these structures by Northern Madtom in these two rivers, what factors were related to catches in minnow traps, and how best to catch this species in fast-flowing deep waters.
Lead author: Mary C. Fabrizio, Professor of Marine Science and Chair, VIMS Department of Fisheries Science
Co-authors: Vaskar Nepal and Troy D. Tuckey
Study: Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Region: A Case Study of Competing
doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10552
Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus, a non-native freshwater catfish, was introduced into the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and 80s. Due to its relatively high salinity tolerance and movement by anglers, they are now present in many tidal rivers in this region. Despite negative ecological impacts, a trophy and commercial fishery has developed. Further complicating the situation is that different management entities regulate the trophy (recreation) and commercial fisheries for this species. To help address some of these management issues, stakeholders were brought together to form the Invasive Catfishes Work Group and created seven recommendations. Dr. Fabrizio and her co-authors discuss each of these recommendations and how management should take a structured decision making approach for dealing with these competing objectives.
The paper…represents years of collaborative research and exchange with fisheries scientists, students, and managers. We wrote this paper to bring to light the competing management objectives that challenge the implementation of a region-wide management plan for invasive blue catfish, and to synthesize information from the literature about complex management issues associated with invasive species. In 2005, when I first arrived at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, I had no idea that I would be studying a freshwater fish, but the more I learned about the growing numbers of blue catfish in Chesapeake Bay tributaries, the more I wanted to lead efforts to provide information to better understand the ecological role of this invasive species. Today, my lab continues to conduct research aimed at identifying knowledge gaps such as the trophic impact of blue catfish on blue crabs in estuarine environments, and the role that salinity plays in structuring populations.
Mary C. Fabrizio (Photo Credit: VIMS)
Lead author: Kristen L. Chestnut-Faull, Aquatic Nuisance Species Biologist, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Co-authors: Quinton E. Phelps, Dustin M. Smith, and David I. Wellman
Title: Using Population Dynamics to Model Harvest Regulation Impacts to Channel Catfish in the Monongahela River, West Virginia
doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10617
Models are often used to determine the best management action for a population of fish. In this case, Kristen Chestnut-Faull and her colleagues looked at different harvest regulations for Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in the Monongahela River, West Virginia. To do this, they collected fish from four river pools using hoop nets to get important information like age, length and weight, sex, and weight and number of eggs. Using two different models, these data helped determine which of three minimum length limits was most appropriate for this population.
Channel Catfish can be tricky to manage as they exhibit regional growth rates and lifespans. In their southern ranges they grow fast and rarely live to be older than 15, while in their northern ranges they grow slow and have been aged in their 30’s. They are most often placed in either food or trophy fishery categories, which typically fall on opposite sides of the spectrum (as far as angler time, effort, money, and resource management go). So, it was awesome to be a part of research that was able to bridge the gap in terms of management goals. We recommended regulations focused on conserving the natural sustainability of the fishery, while also ensuring anglers have the ability to harvest fish.
Kristen Chestnut-Faull (Photo Credit: Dr. Dustin Smith)
Lead author: Savannah R. Muhlbauer, former biologist with Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Co-author: Rebecca M. Krogman
Title: Evaluation of Potential Regulations for Improving Flathead Catfish Size Structure in Iowa’s Large Reservoirs
doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10604
In Savannah Muhlbauer and Rebecca Krogman’s study, age, length, and weight data were collected for Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris in two large reservoirs in Iowa. These data were used to assess three length-based regulations with the goal of increasing the number of large fish in these systems. However, results indicated additional data are needed to better assess what anglers want and to fill existing information gaps.
Lead author: Rebecca M. Krogman, Fisheries Research Biologist for Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Co-author: Tyler J. Stubbs
Title: Strategic Planning for Catfish Angling in the Future: An Example from Urban Iowa
doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10613
Rebecca Krogman and her colleague Tyler Stubbs conducted a mail survey of anglers in urban, suburban, and rapidly growing areas of Iowa. The goal was to learn more about these stakeholders – who they are, what they like, and what obstacles exist for participating in the State’s catfish fisheries. Biologists will use this information to help recruit and retain catfish anglers and identify ways to grow the fishery in Iowa’s urban centers.
My research area has increasingly shifted toward the human aspect of inland recreational fishing because I see our relevance and ability to conserve natural resources waning if we fail to connect with people. As an agency biologist, I believe one of our biggest challenges in fisheries is to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and constituent base. This manuscript is one product of Iowa DNR’s growth and emphasis in urban and community fishing, and although it focuses on catfish, it yielded an approach that can be applied to any fishery. Tyler and I hope to see many more catfish anglers in the future!
Rebecca M. Krogman (Photo Credit: Iowa DNR)
Symposium presentations can be viewed at:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCHNt7ZV05DLWoe4qJO798Pw/videos