Environment DEC
From the September 2006 issue
Anglers Advised Not to Move Fish Between Water Bodies
Illegally stocking fish can interfere
with DEC's efforts to restore certain
fish populations like sturgeon
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is advising anglers of the negative effects of moving fish from one body of water to another. Whether purposely or accidentally done, stocking of fish is illegal without a DEC permit. Introduced fish species can negatively affect the fishery and aquatic ecosystem of the waters they are released into by preying on fish already present, out-competing native species for food, spreading diseases and changing the amount, size, and type of microscopic organisms in the water.
Adirondack Fish Especially Affected
Many waters throughout New York State cannot support a wide array of fish species, and this is especially true in the Adirondacks. Most Adirondack waters contained populations of three or fewer fish species until the late 1800s when human activities introduced non-native fish species into the area. Now non-native fish species dominate the region's lakes and ponds. Native fish, such as Adirondack heritage strain brook trout and the endangered round whitefish inhabit only a small fraction of the waters they had 150 years ago.
DEC stocks trout, one of the few
native Adirondack fish, in many
of the areas waterways
Non-native fish, like largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, golden shiners, rock bass, black crappie and others prey on native Adirondack fish eggs and young and out-compete them for limited food resources. Non-native fish also consume large quantities of zooplankton (very small aquatic animals) and other prey food that native fish feed upon. This results in a decrease in the amount, size and types of zooplankton populations. Reduced amounts of zooplankton, which feed on algae, means less food available to native fish and more algae and algal blooms in that body of water.
Preventing Potential Problems
DEC advises anglers to take the following steps to prevent the spread of non-native fish and ensure healthy populations of native and managed fish:
- Do not move fish from one water body to another; all such stockings are illegal and can damage the aquatic ecosystem as well as fishing opportunities.
- Do not use bait fish on Adirondack waters where it is prohibited; check the Special Regulations section of the New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide to determine where the use of bait fish is prohibited. Most waters will have the sign posted as well.
- Do not release unused bait fish even where using them is allowed; many fish species sold as bait are not native to the Adirondacks. Your bait bucket could be the source of new, non-native species or spread fish diseases to the water you are fishing.
