No Fluke

Learn how to grow shellfish

By Captain Dave Monti
Posted 12/22/15

The Roger Williams University Center for Economic and Environmental Development is now enrolling students for Applied Shellfish Farming, a non-credit course offered during the winter/spring semester …

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No Fluke

Learn how to grow shellfish

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The Roger Williams University Center for Economic and Environmental Development is now enrolling students for Applied Shellfish Farming, a non-credit course offered during the winter/spring semester that teaches both aspiring shellfish farmers and aquaculture professionals how to grow oysters, quahogs and other shellfish species commercially. 

The 14-week program, led by Dale Leavitt, aquaculture extension specialist and associate professor of biology at Roger Williams University, is designed to aid new and experienced shellfish farmers in growing shellfish farming enterprises in Rhode Island and Southeast New England.

Topics in the course include: an overview of shellfish farming, shellfish biology, farm site selection, the permitting process and regulatory aspects of securing and maintaining a lease, an overview of shellfish nursery and grow-out systems, risk management strategies, other technical aspects of shellfish farming, and business and marketing management advice.

The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) considers the course an unofficial requirement for prospective shellfish farmers. Aspects of the course are also required for individuals wishing to apply for a Recreational Aquaculture Permit in Rhode Island.

The course will be held at the University's Bristol campus on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The introductory class will be on Monday, January 11, with the remaining classes continuing on Tuesdays through April 26. The fee for the course is $125 per student, which includes all class materials. Alternatively, interested participants may attend the classes on a drop-in basis for $10 per class. 

Pre-registration is preferred by contacting Cheryl Francis at (401) 254-3110 or cfrancis@rwu.edu. For more information about the course visit www.rismp.org/topics/aquaculture.

Intersex in freshwater bass attributed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals 

Eighty five percent of male smallmouth bass and twenty-seven percent of male largemouth bass tested in waters in the Northeast U.S. were intersex, according to a new study by U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service researchers.

Intersex is when one sex develops characteristics of the opposite sex. It is tied to the exposure of fish to endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect the reproductive system and cause the development of characteristics of the opposite sex.  Intersex characteristics seen in the fish include immature eggs in the testes of male fish. Intersex is a global issue, as wild-caught fish affected by endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been found in locations across the world.

Estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals are derived from a variety of sources, from natural estrogens to synthetic pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals that enter the waterways. Examples include some types of birth control pills, natural sex hormones in livestock manures, herbicides and pesticides. 

This prevalence of intersex fish in this study is much higher than that found in similar USGS studies that evaluated intersex in black basses in nine river basins in the United States. 

"The results of this new study show the extent of endocrine disrupting chemicals on refuge lands using bass as an indicator for exposures that may affect fish and other aquatic species," said Fred Pinkney, a USFWS contaminants biologist and study coauthor. "To help address this issue, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encourages management actions that reduce runoff into streams, ponds and lakes -- both on and off of refuge lands."

The journal article, "Evidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption in smallmouth and largemouth bass inhabiting Northeast U.S. National Wildlife Refuge waters: a reconnaissance study," is available online.

Growing the number of anglers

While the numbers anglers (33 million) remains about the same overall when looking at participation levels for the entire country, recent research by Southwick Associates has cast a bright light on the make-up of these participants and revealed there is actually a high rate of turnover among fishers.

This turnover suggests there are literally millions of people who have already exhibited interest in fishing.  The data suggest that fishing marketers may capture this low hanging fruit and bring them back into the annual sporting ranks with different strategies than those used to attract new participants. 

The research, conducted on behalf of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) via a Multi-State grant awarded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, is part of broader effort to better identify and understand the fishing consumer and help fish and wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and outdoor-focused businesses to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts and grow overall participation levels. 

One of the most striking findings of the research, conducted as a multi-faceted study in 2014-2015 with results released to the public in a series of reports, was that the image of the typical angler as a diehard, must-participate enthusiast is not typical at all. In fact, the diehard sportsman actually represents a rather small percentage of all participants with only four percent of fisherman buying licenses each of the 10 years for which data was provided.

Much larger was the casual participant who for whatever reasons buy licenses some years, sometimes even years in a row, before going a year or multiple years without buying a license. The "typical angler" buys a license three out of every 10 years. 

This phenomenon of sportsmen who step in and out as participants is known as churn.  Wildlife agency and conservation organization programs have been geared toward providing introductory opportunities for newcomers.  However, the results of Southwick's research reinforces the idea now engaged by many sportsmen marketing programs that a larger return on investment might be had with programs designed to re-engage the casual participant.

As state agencies and industry seek to refine and improve their efforts to boost participation, the insights provided by this groundbreaking research can provide businesses, agencies and organizations with the information needed to better tailor programs and products to attract and build committed participants.

For more information, visit http://asafishing.org/facts-figures/angler-participation/u.s.-angler-population-their-lifestyles-and-license-buying-habits.

Where's the bite?

Cod fishing.  Capt. Frank Blount said, "Cod fishing is excellent. Many anglers have limited out and just like last December we are experiencing a very improved run of cod.  Generally the cod fish are less than eight pounds but on occasion like on Friday some bigger fish show up. Friday had a lot of cod in the teens with the best of the lot a solid 25 pound fish. Both bait and jigs have been working but on occasion one will work better than the other like bait did this past Friday on the bigger cod so please be prepared for both. A lot of short cod fish as well which is important for future years. There have been a lot of quality sea bass mixed in again this past week."

Party boats sailing for cod fish at this time include the Frances Fleet at www.francesfleet.com , the Seven B's (with Capt. Andy Dangelo at the helm) at www.sevenbs.com, and the Island Current at www.islandcurrent.com .

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing for over 40 years. He holds a captain's master license and a charter fishing license. Visit Captain Dave's No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him with your fishing news and photos at dmontifish@verizon.net.

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