06-24-2015, 03:05 AM
[quote PBH]
OP -- yes, crayfish certainly do present a very real threat to fisheries. Here is one article discussion some of the issues the West is currently facing:
https://www.hcn.org/issues/181/5871
[/quote]
That's an interesting article. Thanks for posting. I gotta imagine the stream mentioned in that article had a "perfect storm" of factors that would allow a population of crayfish to bloom virtually uninhibited by other predators. We have crayfish in many trophy fisheries in Utah (the A-section of the Green comes to mind) and haven't had any of the devastation like that witnessed in AZ.
My main concern (and admittedly, I'm only an armchair biologist) would be the potential for transfer of disease and the potential for crayfish to negatively impact spawning fish eggs - especially trout.
I just think the law isn't really accomplishing anything other than inhibiting the innocent transport of crayfish. Bucket biologists are breaking the law already. Those who just want to transport the crayfish home aren't intending to introduce them to other waters.
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OP -- yes, crayfish certainly do present a very real threat to fisheries. Here is one article discussion some of the issues the West is currently facing:
https://www.hcn.org/issues/181/5871
[/quote]
That's an interesting article. Thanks for posting. I gotta imagine the stream mentioned in that article had a "perfect storm" of factors that would allow a population of crayfish to bloom virtually uninhibited by other predators. We have crayfish in many trophy fisheries in Utah (the A-section of the Green comes to mind) and haven't had any of the devastation like that witnessed in AZ.
My main concern (and admittedly, I'm only an armchair biologist) would be the potential for transfer of disease and the potential for crayfish to negatively impact spawning fish eggs - especially trout.
I just think the law isn't really accomplishing anything other than inhibiting the innocent transport of crayfish. Bucket biologists are breaking the law already. Those who just want to transport the crayfish home aren't intending to introduce them to other waters.
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