State fish and wildlife agencies in Vermont, Minnesota, and Ohio were awarded Outstanding Sport Fish Restoration Program Projects of the Year by the American Fisheries Society’s Fisheries Administration Section. The winning projects were announced at the American Fisheries Society annual meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“The Sport Fish Restoration Program is an essential part of efforts to ensure quality recreational fishing opportunities for anglers,” stated Lynn Quattro, President of the Fisheries Administration Section. “These states were recognized for projects that reflect the intent of the SFR program such as improving the management of key sport fish species, increasing the survival of sport fishes stocked, insuring angler access to fishing areas, and continuing to promote angling to the current and next generation of anglers.”
The 2024 Outstanding Projects are:
Sport Fishery Development and Management Category
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD) – Implementation and Evaluation of Strategic Wood Addition in Vermont Brook Trout Streams
A 2013 study found that the lack of in-stream wood is one of the main factors limiting Brook Trout biomass in northeastern Vermont. As a result of that study, VFWD and Trout Unlimited began strategically adding large woody material to northeastern Vermont Brook Trout streams in 2012. Since that time, VFWD has monitored the function and longevity of strategically added large woody material.
After 12 years of strategic wood addition in northeastern Vermont, VFWD demonstrated that strategically added wood performs fish habitat and fluvial functions for over a decade and predicts that it will continue to function for many decades to come. Based on the increase in Brook Trout abundance observed because of strategic wood additions and the number of stream miles treated with this method, VFWD conservatively estimates that there are now approximately 76,000 more Brook Trout swimming in northeastern Vermont streams. The techniques proven effective in northeastern Vermont are now being used in other parts of the state and in other parts of the eastern United States. Project Details
Fisheries Research and Surveys Category
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) – Niche Overlap, Diets, and Consumption of Muskellunge and Other Piscivores in Minnesota Lake
In Minnesota, Muskellunge stocking to supplement native populations, or stocking to expand angling opportunities to new Muskellunge lakes, has resulted in significant interest from the public and fisheries managers about potential negative effects of Muskellunge on other fish populations. Two complimentary projects have recently been completed to help inform the critical need to better understand the interaction between Muskellunge, other top predators, and their prey. The objectives of the studies were to quantify diets and niche overlap of Muskellunge and these other predator species and apply bioenergetics modeling to estimate how much food and how much of each prey species is consumed by Muskellunge populations compared to the other predator populations.
MNDNR concluded that Muskellunge management and stocking in appropriate lakes can provide diverse angling opportunities for trophy fish without jeopardizing populations of other predators, panfish species, and forage fishes. The results of this work will benefit and better inform the public (i.e., anglers and lakeshore owners), MNDNR fisheries staff, and policy makers about the ecological role and prey demands of Muskellunge, Walleye, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass. It will also be useful for fisheries managers when considering stocking plans or possible regulation changes for any of these top predators in lakes throughout Minnesota or other areas of the United States. Project Details
Angler Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) and/or Aquatic Education Category
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife (ODNR)– Erie PrOH Lake Erie Fishing Guide Certification Program
The number of fishing guides licensed on Lake Erie has steadily grown during the past 20 years in response to the unprecedented quality of the Walleye fishery. Guides hosting parties of anglers provide an opportunity to promote resource stewardship and their industry through informed outreach and a means to recruit, retain, and reactivate anglers. ODNR, Ohio Sea Grant, and Shores and Islands Ohio worked cooperatively to develop and launch the “Erie PrOH” Fishing Guide Certification Program.
Online, self-paced learning modules were developed through The Ohio State University “Scarlet Campus” using expertise from partner agencies. To date, 77 licensed guides have been certified since the program was launched one year ago. Certified fishing guides become recognized ambassadors of stewardship for the Ohio Lake Erie fishery. The Erie PrOH logo identifies business operators who appreciate, understand, and promote sustainable angling in Ohio. Project Details
For additional information on the Outstanding Sportfish Restoration Program awards, contact Christian Waters christian.waters@ncwildlife.org, President-elect of the Fisheries Administration Section.