04-07-2010, 11:11 AM
A coalition of angler-supported conservation groups, including Coastal Conservation Association Georgia, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Satilla Riverkeeper, Georgia Kayak Fishing, Ogeechee Riverkeeper and Savannah Riverkeeper, is calling on Georgia's fishermen to ensure the future of one of their favorite catches - the spotted seatrout. Dubbed Operation ROE, the groups are asking their members and the angling public to voluntarily release spotted seatrout over 18 inches long this spring so that more larger fish have a chance to participate in the 2010 spawning season. State biologists and many anglers are concerned that persistently low temperatures this winter caused widespread kills of spotted seatrout.
"Water temperatures below 44 degrees Fahrenheit can be lethal to spotted seatrout, and even if the fish aren't killed immediately the stress from such extreme temperatures often leads to death later," explains Spud Woodward, veteran fisheries biologist and director of the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Plus, seatrout are less active in very cold water making them more susceptible to predators such as bottlenose dolphins."
During a 10-day period in early January, DNR measured water temperatures from 40 to 44 degrees in several locations along the coast. Although the weather moderated somewhat in late January, below-average water temperatures persisted through early March, particularly north of the Altamaha River Delta.
"Anglers reported seeing dead seatrout in several areas of the coast as recently as late February. The situation is serious enough that we'll be conducting special net surveys this spring to determine whether seatrout abundance has been significantly reduced," said Woodward.
DNR studies show that approximately 94 percent of trout more than 18 inches in length are females, so it is not surprising that many anglers refer to all larger fish as roe (egg) trout. Research has shown that larger, older females produce many more eggs than smaller individuals. An 18-inch female seatrout has the potential to produce almost 18 million eggs during the six-month spawning season - almost five times the egg production of a 14-inch trout. Plus, older fish have survival traits valuable in the gene pool.
"The voluntary release of larger trout is a great way for the average angler to directly participate in conservation while helping to ensure there'll be more fish to catch in 2011 and following years. We hope all coastal anglers will support Operation ROE," said Harry Lowe, state chairman of CCA Georgia.
###
Contact: CCA Executive Director Clay Mobley, (912) 927-0280; Georgia Wildlife Federation Executive Vice President Glenn Dowling, (770) 787-7887; Satilla Riverkeeper Executive Director, Bill Miller, (912) 510-9500; Ogeechee Riverkeeper Executive Director Chandra Brown (866) 942-1119; Georgia Kayak Fishing Director Tony Narcisse, (678) 379-8342; Savannah Riverkeeper Executive Director Tonya Bonitatibus, (706) 826-8991
OPERATION ROE
Fact sheet
* Water temperatures in Georgia estuaries and the near shore Atlantic Ocean have been below average since early January. During a 10-day period in early January, Coastal Resources Division staff measured water temperatures (surface and bottom) between 40 and 44 degrees from Savannah to St. Marys.
* Published research indicates that water temperatures below 44 degrees can be lethal to spotted seatrout. Even when trout are not killed immediately, they can suffer stress leading to chronic mortality. There have been scattered reports of dead seatrout and other species since mid-January. The most recent report was last week.
* Spotted seatrout exhibit sexual dimorphism - females are larger than males at the same age. In Georgia, the majority of fish larger than 18 inches are female.
* Spotted seatrout are indeterminate batch spawners - an individual fish will spawn multiple times during the spawning season (April to September). Research has shown that spawning may occur two to four times each month with larger and older fish spawning more frequently than younger fish.
* The number of eggs released per spawning event is positively related to the size of the female - the larger the fish, the more eggs released.
Age
Total Length<br />
Eggs Per Spawn<br />
Annual Egg Production
1<br />
11<br />
175,000<br />
3.2 million
2<br />
15<br />
407,000<br />
9.5 million
3<br />
18<br />
530,000<br />
17.6 million
* Typically, Age 1 and 2 fish comprise the majority of Georgia's spotted seatrout population and produce most of the eggs during the annual spawning season. However, it's theorized that smaller, younger trout suffer disproportionately high mortality during cold winters. Thus, in the spawning season after a very cold winter, older and larger trout may contribute a greater portion of annual egg production than in years following mild winters.
* The voluntary release of trout larger than 18 inches in length during the period from April through September 2010 should result in increased egg production during the 2010 spawning season and, with favorable conditions for survival, a stronger year class of juvenile trout going into the winter of 2010/2011.
Media Contact<br />
Clay Mobley claymobley@ccaga.org
"Water temperatures below 44 degrees Fahrenheit can be lethal to spotted seatrout, and even if the fish aren't killed immediately the stress from such extreme temperatures often leads to death later," explains Spud Woodward, veteran fisheries biologist and director of the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Plus, seatrout are less active in very cold water making them more susceptible to predators such as bottlenose dolphins."
During a 10-day period in early January, DNR measured water temperatures from 40 to 44 degrees in several locations along the coast. Although the weather moderated somewhat in late January, below-average water temperatures persisted through early March, particularly north of the Altamaha River Delta.
"Anglers reported seeing dead seatrout in several areas of the coast as recently as late February. The situation is serious enough that we'll be conducting special net surveys this spring to determine whether seatrout abundance has been significantly reduced," said Woodward.
DNR studies show that approximately 94 percent of trout more than 18 inches in length are females, so it is not surprising that many anglers refer to all larger fish as roe (egg) trout. Research has shown that larger, older females produce many more eggs than smaller individuals. An 18-inch female seatrout has the potential to produce almost 18 million eggs during the six-month spawning season - almost five times the egg production of a 14-inch trout. Plus, older fish have survival traits valuable in the gene pool.
"The voluntary release of larger trout is a great way for the average angler to directly participate in conservation while helping to ensure there'll be more fish to catch in 2011 and following years. We hope all coastal anglers will support Operation ROE," said Harry Lowe, state chairman of CCA Georgia.
###
Contact: CCA Executive Director Clay Mobley, (912) 927-0280; Georgia Wildlife Federation Executive Vice President Glenn Dowling, (770) 787-7887; Satilla Riverkeeper Executive Director, Bill Miller, (912) 510-9500; Ogeechee Riverkeeper Executive Director Chandra Brown (866) 942-1119; Georgia Kayak Fishing Director Tony Narcisse, (678) 379-8342; Savannah Riverkeeper Executive Director Tonya Bonitatibus, (706) 826-8991
OPERATION ROE
Fact sheet
* Water temperatures in Georgia estuaries and the near shore Atlantic Ocean have been below average since early January. During a 10-day period in early January, Coastal Resources Division staff measured water temperatures (surface and bottom) between 40 and 44 degrees from Savannah to St. Marys.
* Published research indicates that water temperatures below 44 degrees can be lethal to spotted seatrout. Even when trout are not killed immediately, they can suffer stress leading to chronic mortality. There have been scattered reports of dead seatrout and other species since mid-January. The most recent report was last week.
* Spotted seatrout exhibit sexual dimorphism - females are larger than males at the same age. In Georgia, the majority of fish larger than 18 inches are female.
* Spotted seatrout are indeterminate batch spawners - an individual fish will spawn multiple times during the spawning season (April to September). Research has shown that spawning may occur two to four times each month with larger and older fish spawning more frequently than younger fish.
* The number of eggs released per spawning event is positively related to the size of the female - the larger the fish, the more eggs released.
Age
Total Length<br />
Eggs Per Spawn<br />
Annual Egg Production
1<br />
11<br />
175,000<br />
3.2 million
2<br />
15<br />
407,000<br />
9.5 million
3<br />
18<br />
530,000<br />
17.6 million
* Typically, Age 1 and 2 fish comprise the majority of Georgia's spotted seatrout population and produce most of the eggs during the annual spawning season. However, it's theorized that smaller, younger trout suffer disproportionately high mortality during cold winters. Thus, in the spawning season after a very cold winter, older and larger trout may contribute a greater portion of annual egg production than in years following mild winters.
* The voluntary release of trout larger than 18 inches in length during the period from April through September 2010 should result in increased egg production during the 2010 spawning season and, with favorable conditions for survival, a stronger year class of juvenile trout going into the winter of 2010/2011.
Media Contact<br />
Clay Mobley claymobley@ccaga.org