Seasonal roundtail chub fishery scheduled to open Oct. 3
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will conduct a telephonic meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the department headquarters on 5000 W. Carefree Highway to discuss a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity to close Fossil Creek to fishing.
The public can attend the meeting in person or view it live over the Web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Those wishing to present oral comment to the commission must do so in person. The commission may vote to take action on, or provide the department direction regarding the petition.
A segment of Fossil Creek is scheduled to open for the first-ever seasonal fishery for roundtail chub on Oct. 3, requiring that artificial-only lures be used with barbless hooks and that all fish be immediately released.
The center claims that a draft study released last spring by researchers at Arizona State University, months after the commission had established this fishery in the regulations in October of 2008, shows that headwater chub, not roundtail chub, dominate in an upper section of the creek. The mix is about 50-50 in another lower section of creek.
Both chub species are “candidate species” under federal law. Being a candidate species does not afford them any increased protection under either state or federal statutes.
Both species of chub look exactly the same and experts can’t tell the difference between the two visually. Nor can geneticists describe genetic differences separating the species across their range.
In addition, the two chub species at Fossil Creek are known to interbreed, something that last spring’s draft study by ASU points out. The hybrid chubs are also capable of breeding, and do.
A Game and Fish Department survey last spring and this fall showed that Fossil Creek has a healthy, robust population of chub with a good diversity of age classes within the reach open to fishing.
Department biologists said employing the catch-and-release techniques prescribed in regulation at Fossil Creek would have no demonstrable affect on wild populations of either chub species.
“We believe Fossil Creek is a unique opportunity to increase the public’s appreciation of native fish,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. “We firmly believe this increased public appreciation, especially by anglers, will aid our efforts in recovering other native fish species, even those listed under the Endangered Species Act.”
Young pointed out that the past 100 years have clearly demonstrated to all that the sportsmen conservation model in North America is clearly the most successful one in the entire world.
“When hunter and angler conservationists become involved with a species, biologists are given one of the best tools in the tool box for conserving the species and their associated habitat. We want to deploy that invaluable tool at Fossil Creek,” Young said.
Young pointed out that there are over 6 million people currently in Arizona there are just under 10 million projected by 2025. “Without a dedicated and diverse cadre of advocates for native species and special areas, places like Fossil Creek may not last. We need to lay the foundation now to build as large an advocacy group as possible.”
Although Fossil Creek is popular with hikers, officials point out, it is also way too popular with partiers – especially ones who leave lots of trash.
“We are hoping to gradually yet dramatically change the patronage at Fossil Creek from ones who often abuse the creek and its associated habitat to ones who wish to protect and conserve this unique travertine system,” Young said.