News & Views

from Making Waves - Winter 2020

Fish Habitat Partnership Signed by Pres. Trump

Connecticut Atlantic Salmon Stock- required to FISH in both the Naugatuck River and ing Continues Shetucket River Atlantic Salmon Management areas. The annual fall stocking of our specially produced Atlantic salmon continues. Two lakes, Mount Tom Pond (Washington) and Crystal Lake Official Posting of ATLANTIC SALMON FISHING REGULATIONS by Commissioner Dykes (Ellington) were stocked earlier this fall, and now In the Naugatuck, Housatonic and Shetucket Rivthe very popular Atlantic Salmon Management ers, from September 1 through December 15, anAreas on the Naugatuck River and the Shetucket gling for Atlantic salmon is restricted to catchRiver have each been stocked on two separate and-release only. From December 16, 2020, occasions over the last few weeks. About 25% of through March 31, 2021, the daily creel limit for these fish produced each fall are stocked into the Atlantic salmon will be one. During the open sealakes and 75% into the rivers. Stocking of more son in the rivers, the legal method for taking Atand bigger Atlantic Salmon will continue lantic salmon is limited to angling using a single throughout November! fly, or an artificial lure with a single free swinging For more on this program please visit our Atlantic Salmon Management Area webpage. hook and no additional weight can be added to the line above the fly or lure. Also, from September 1st through March 31st, fishing for other speIt is important to understand that these fish are cies in the designated Atlantic Salmon not part of any restoration effort, they are pro- “Broodstock Areas” is restricted to the gear legal duced specifically to provide a unique recreation- for Atlantic salmon. al fishery. The Fisheries Division can only stock these fish in waters outside of the Connecticut River Watershed (it is illegal to fish for Atlantic salmon within the CT River Watershed). On the Shetucket River, anglers can fish for salmon downstream from the Scotland Dam (Windham) to the Water Street Bridge in Norwich (the first bridge upstream of Norwich HarRegulations for these waters can be found on bor). The salmon are stocked into one designated page 28 of the 2020 Fishing Guide. Atlantic Salmon “Broodstock Area”, from the ScotFor the lakes, the daily limit is one salmon per land Dam to the Occum Dam. person per day. A trout and salmon stamp is Anglers are allowed to fish for salmon in the Nauneeded to keep these fish. gatuck River from the confluence of the East and West Branches (Torrington) downstream to the For the rivers, fishing is catch and release until Housatonic River (Derby). Anglers may also fish December 16, 2020. A trout and salmon stamp is for Atlantic salmon in the Housatonic River

downstream of Derby Dam. The salmon are typi- nels more frequently than it does through other cally stocked into two designated Atlantic Salmon forms of communication. This is critical to underBroodstock Areas on the Naugatuck River, the standing how information is shared within the “Campville Section” of the upper Naugatuck River recreational fishing community. from Route 118 downstream to the Thomaston Flood Control Dam (Litchfield-Thomaston) and • Information sources that likely involve direct the “Beacon Falls Section” of the lower Nau- interactions (e.g., family, bait and tackle shops, gatuck, from Prospect Street (Naugatuck) down- and for-hire captains) were more trusted than stream to Pines Bridge Road (Route 42 bridge, online or broadcast sources (e.g., blogs and mesBeacon Falls). From September 1st through sage boards). March 31st, fishing for other species in these des- • Social networks are important for information ignated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas is re- sharing and, potentially, opinions about fishery stricted to the gear legal for Atlantic salmon. management. The regulations for Atlantic salmon released into lakes and ponds are different from the regulations for salmon on the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers. In each lake, the regulations for methods, seasons and minimum lengths for salmon will be the same as for trout in that specific water body • While avid anglers tend to consult friends and bait and tackle stores most frequently for fishing information, they also consult a wider variety of sources, and consult them more frequently than less avid anglers. but the daily creel limit will be one salmon per • More avid anglers have larger angler netday. (Please refer to the 2020 CT Angler’s Guide works and could serve as information pathways. for trout regulations). ery information likely flows through social chan• Anglers involved with fisheries management New Study of Recreational Anglers fisheries regulations also have larger angler networks. They could potentially serve as inforIdentifies Most Trusted Information mation pathways themselves. Sources? • Anglers who say they understand the fisheries A new survey of saltwater recreational anglers management process, and believe fisheries manlooked at their sources of information when it agers share their values and respond to their concomes to fishery management and data collec- cerns, are more likely to trust management. tion. It found that their most used and trusted sources were friends, family, bait and tackle shops, and state and federal agency information such as websites and regulation guides. NOAA Fisheries conducted the mail survey of 10,000 • Opinions on the effectiveness of current fisheries management are tied to trust in management, shared values, and perceptions of management responsiveness. randomly sampled licensed saltwater recreational This mail survey was conducted from June–anglers on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from September 2020. It was the first phase of a social Maine to Mississippi. Results will help us better network analysis designed to help identify relaunderstand how information flows through rec- tionships, networks, channels, and information reational fishing communities and inform our flow within the recreational fishing community. strategies for engaging with anglers. The study (PDF, 111 pages) examined how recreOther key findings include: ational anglers gather, share, and evaluate information on topics related to fisheries data collec• The important role of friends, bait shop em- tion. ployees, and family members suggests that fish- Survey Objectives and who describe themselves as familiar with

The survey collected data on:

• Where saltwater recreational anglers go to gather information on saltwater recreational fishing issues including fishing regulations and data collection • Angler trust levels associated with different We are currently assessing the timeline for con• Communicate about fishery data collection project. More Information

About the Marine Recreational Information Pro-

sources of information on saltwater fishing regu- New Jersey: $11.2 Million Available lations and data collection issues to Help Fishing Businesses • Angler understanding of and confidence in saltwater recreational fisheries management, data collection, and data analysis TRENTON – The Murphy Administration is making $11.2 million in financial assistance available to commercial and recreational fishing businesses • Angler opinions and beliefs on the current impacted by the COVID-19 public health emerstate of saltwater recreational fisheries manage- gency, Governor Phil Murphy and Department of ment and data collection Environmental Protection Commissioner CatheThese findings helped develop and plan for the ing is available as grants to eligible businesses second phase of the study: an in-person survey of that document a 35-percent loss in revenues as a 180 anglers among three coastal communities. result of the pandemic. ducting this phase in light of COVID-19. The mail “Fishing is an integral part of New Jersey’s identisurvey helped identify sources and pathways ty and a critical component of our economy”, said used in information gathering and focused on Gov. Murphy “This grant program will help these discovering broad trends. The in-person inter- businesses recover losses they have incurred durviews will collect more detailed information ing very difficult times. And we can all play a role about specific angler social networks and interac- in supporting New Jersey’s fishing industry by tions. In particular, it will provide an opportunity buying from local seafood suppliers and enjoying to more fully detail how anglers: fishing through charter boat operations and bait gram rine R. McCabe announced Thursday. The fundand tackle shops.” and management issues “The DEP is pleased to assist in bringing this much-needed financial support to New Jersey’s • Identify trusted information sources valuable fishing industry and communities, which • Understand the drivers of their attitudes toward different sources of information have been hard hit by the COVID pandemic,” said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “We are especially grateful to New Jersey’s legisThe social network analysis was informed by the lative delegation and our federal partners at the 2017 National Academies of Sciences review of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrathe Marine Recreational Information Pro- tion for their support of this program.” gram and MRIP’s five-year strategic plan (20172022) to expand two-way dialogue with the recreational fishing community. The project was developed by NOAA Fisheries staff and ECS contractors, in consultation with researchers from the University of Florida and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program. The funding comes from a $300 million allocation for fishing industries in coastal states provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This assistance is made possible through the collaboration of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the members of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Watch a NOAA Central Library Seminar on the Council. The New Jersey Division of Fish and

Wildlife’s Marine Fisheries Administration will review applications and administer financial assistance to eligible business. Estimates place the economic value of commercial and recreational fishing in New Jersey at some $2.5 billion annually. As part of its efforts to assist the commercial industry, the DEP and New Jersey Department of Agriculture have launched a Support New Jersey Seafood website. It provides the public and consumers with information and an interactive map of businesses that sell seafood products that have been landed, grown or harvested in New Jersey. A similar on-line tool is being developed for recreational fishing businesses.

Program Details for Applicants An online application will be available Monday, October 19, 2020, through DEP’s electronic grants management system, NJDEP SAGE at https://njdepsage.intelligrants.com. Details on the specific information that must be provided are available at the Marine Fisheries Administration’s CARES website at www.njfishandwildlife.com/cares_info.htm. Applications will be posted here, as well as other updates to the program. Questions may be submitted by email to njfisheriesaid@dep.nj.gov.

Red Drum, Speckled Trout Show up in Delaware

By Eric Burnley - Cape Gazette While not in great numbers yet, their presence is just another example of the rising water temperatures in the ocean and bays.

The red drum, or channel bass, are also the result of a very successful conservation program that has increased their biomass to the extent that they are expanding their range. Some may remember the craze for blackened redfish that swept the country and resulted in a concerted effort by commercial fishermen to fill the orders they had for all the red drum they could catch. This led to a crash in the red drum population, and a move on both state and federal levels to regulate the fishery. On the federal level, they made it against the law to possess a red drum in federal waters. The states developed laws that put bag limits of no more than five or six fish in slots that varied between 20 and 27 inches.

How well did this work? Just ask any surf fisherman who works the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Or a shallow-water angler who works the marshes of Louisiana. They and thousands of other fishermen from Virginia to Texas are reaping the benefits of this conservation.

NOAA Web Page for Fishermen Resources Now Available

Visit our web page Resources for Fishing in the Greater Atlantic for information on how to comment on recent rules, apply for permits, complete your reporting requirements and much more! Bookmark this page for easy access or find it by navigating from our home page and clicking on the Fishing Industry Home Page.

Let us know if you have suggestions of other links you'd like to see included on this resource page for easy access. Questions/Comments? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175