Stop The Closure Petition

[Danoinark]

Was asked to post this:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-National-Fish-Hactheries/

[Trav]

I have been pretty good at avoiding political based conversations as of late and this looks to be a topic which will quickly turn into a blame game. So, I will just throw this out there in hopes this doesn't turn into the battle of the two extremes. This is a great subject if we can steer clear of politics and keep it based on the actual impact these hatcheries have.

My two pennies…..

Why stock a species of fish which have no possibility of being self sustaining? In effect, isn’t it just another form of a government cheese? I mean…isn’t it the same as the government maintaining a huge fish tank?

Let’s not forget, there are plenty of dollars being made off of fishing without government stocked hatchery fish. I don’t think the loss of government support of these hatcheries will have as big of an impact as it is being perceived.

If it is so profitable to stock fish just for angling purposes then why not privatize the hatcheries? You would think the businesses profiting from them would be willing to protect their livelihood, with or without the government support.

Wouldn’t our tax dollars for conservation be more effectively spent on developing and protecting spawning areas for fish? Let nature do its course?

I am not against the idea of having a stocking program. Just saying it would make sense to do so by establishing naturally reproducing populations instead of having some fish in the barrel for the tourists.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm not at this point going to sign this petition. I not convinced that we will not be better off on the whole if these hatcheries are closed.

Even though it wouldn't be intentional,this could be one of the best things that ever happened to native species.

[drew03cmc]

I'm not at this point going to sign this petition. I not convinced that we will not be better off on the whole if these hatcheries are closed.

Even though it wouldn't be intentional,this could be one of the best things that ever happened to native species.

OTF, I have to say that I agree with your statement wholeheartedly. I would not sign it either.

[Zach Bearden]

Thanks for posting this here Dano.

My vote is that until we have creel limits cut down so that the fish have an opportunity to get to the point in their lives where they can naturally reproduce we should keep these hatcheries.

I would love for all of our fish to be wild. That would be fantastic! But, until we can stop 50 people a day from taking their 6 fish limit, our fisheries are going nowhere.

[HighPlainsFlyFisher]

You guys do realize that there aren't any native trout in the Ozarks..PERIOD. If stocking is discontinued in the region due to these closures every single river and stream that supports a population of trout will suffer greatly along with the folks who make their living from the fisheries. You aren't getting your smallmouth fisheries back below the dams that the federal government built years ago..trout or not. The whole idea behind the National Fish Hatcheries to begin with was to subsidize the fishery and economies that were wiped out when the dams were put in. And the statement that our money would be better put to use some other way...might be a true statement , but do you really have enough faith in our government to think that they will use the extra funds to put back into other fishery projects? Highly unlikely! Letting these hatcheries close is like giving the feds back money that the people already have the right to , if we let them balk on their commitments now ,that moneys gone forever. Oh , and just wait until the folks that are currently fishing for all those previously stocked non-native species turn their attention to your natives like smallmouth once the trout have disappeared. Zach , I agree , I would love for all fish to be wild as well but that will never happen due to the fact that we have destroyed the habitats that once supported these native fish , the damage has already been done and theres no turning back the clock. Simply my opinion , and I don't expect anyone to agree with me. Only hoping that people really think this through because it could have a major effect on our fisheries in the future. This is my only post on this topic..I feel too strongly about it to be convinced otherwise and unfortunately I'm one of those that doesn't always play nice with others when I feel that way....Jeff

[Trav]

There are a few small streams in the Ozarks where trout are native and still spawn naturally....Crane Creek for example.

If the hatcheries go private the trout could still be caught as a pay to play fishery.

Also...there are ways to assist a natural spawn. Ladders around dams have been proven to work out west. Maybe trout should be off limits until something like that can be developed and implimented. The real issue with trout and a natural spawn has to do with lack of proper food source. Many places where trout are stocked just can't support a population.

I am not afraid of a hoard of trout fishermen going after native species...haha...our native populations are quite healthy. As far as creel limits...a totally different subject. I think certain species should be exclusively catch and release. But like I said....totally different subject....

[eric1978]

HPF is right on. There would be no benefit to cutting the program except to save some budget pocket-change, and that's not a cut that would make any significant difference with our deficit problems.

And Trav, there are NO native trout in MO...the populations in the wild trout streams are "wild," but they're not native. Any trout swimming in Ozark water was either put there directly by man, or is an ancestor of a trout put there by man. And privatizing hatcheries would make fishing unaffordable for lots of people. Let's stick with what we got...it works.

Where do I sign?

[Zach Bearden]

I don't see a benefit in making hatcheries private. Making all our waters private would just blow. Look at the U.K. it's all clubs and such. With inflation and the loss of jobs (which losing these hatcheries would increase that rate as well) people just won't be able to fish anymore just because of the price!

Man, I'm about to go to college. I really don't want to have to split my budget (what little I have) between books, food, housing, my education, and trout. And what am I going to college for? As a Biology major with a Fish and Wildlife emphasis. The closing of these hatcheries is taking away my livelyhood without me even having a chance!

I'd love to keep these hatcheries.

[drew03cmc]

You guys do realize that there aren't any native trout in the Ozarks..PERIOD. If stocking is discontinued in the region due to these closures every single river and stream that supports a population of trout will suffer greatly along with the folks who make their living from the fisheries. You aren't getting your smallmouth fisheries back below the dams that the federal government built years ago..trout or not. The whole idea behind the National Fish Hatcheries to begin with was to subsidize the fishery and economies that were wiped out when the dams were put in. And the statement that our money would be better put to use some other way...might be a true statement , but do you really have enough faith in our government to think that they will use the extra funds to put back into other fishery projects? Highly unlikely! Letting these hatcheries close is like giving the feds back money that the people already have the right to , if we let them balk on their commitments now ,that moneys gone forever. Oh , and just wait until the folks that are currently fishing for all those previously stocked non-native species turn their attention to your natives like smallmouth once the trout have disappeared. Zach , I agree , I would love for all fish to be wild as well but that will never happen due to the fact that we have destroyed the habitats that once supported these native fish , the damage has already been done and theres no turning back the clock. Simply my opinion , and I don't expect anyone to agree with me. Only hoping that people really think this through because it could have a major effect on our fisheries in the future. This is my only post on this topic..I feel too strongly about it to be convinced otherwise and unfortunately I'm one of those that doesn't always play nice with others when I feel that way....Jeff

Trout are only there to tide us over in the winter until smallmouth flows warm back up. They serve a financial purpose, but that is about it. The idea of getting hundreds of miles of smallmouth habitat back makes me giddy.