Fishing Information

Marine News Fall 2004 - Endangered and Threatened in Florida


Our oceans are home to many marine mammals, fish, turtles, corals and others. The delicate balance between man and the ocean is constantly being challenged by the demands of our society. Most of our planet is covered by water, a necessary ingredient of human life. The state of our oceans should be uppermost in our minds in order for quality of life for all species to remain as it is.

Florida's West Indiana Manatee-What is Killing Them? The top manatee story after the recent hurricanes was in Lee County where residents rescued a manatee that was the victim of Hurricane Charley's storm surge. The stunned and tired manatee was splashed onto Pearl Street after the storm surge receded. This was one manatee that did not have to be included in the mortality numbers this year.

The manatees killed this year are divided into categories by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. 1/1/04 - 9/30/04 numbers: Watercraft-60, Flood Gates-1, Other human-4, Perinatal-65, Cold-36, Natural-20, Undetermined-43, Unrecovered-2 for a total of 231.

According to the February 2004 count of manatees in Florida by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission there were only 2568 manatees remaining in Florida.

If you see a dead or injured manatee or one that's been harassed while in Florida, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's toll-free hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC.

Lastly, as a visitor to our tropical paradise, do not approach, touch, feed or water manatees. It is against the law and carries a fine as well as a possible jail term. Use your camera to make memories, not a police experience.

Dolphins - Our favorite Marine Mammal. Dolphins are not endangered at this time, but the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 requires you to stay away from them. Do not encourage them into the path of danger by boats or other human interaction. Wild dolphins have been found injured by firecrackers placed down their blow hold, beer poured over them and into their blow hold and other horror stories. These beautiful creatures think man is their friend but the next person they meet may be their enemy instead.

There are licensed facilities where you can interact safely with dolphins that have been raised in captivity or rescued.

Sea Turtles-Has the 2004 hurricane season hurt their recovery? South Florida is home to Loggerheads, Leatherbacks and Green sea turtles. Hawksbill and Kemp's ridley have occasionally been found. These are the five species found in US waters in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The population of loggerheads nesting along the Atlantic coast of Florida is the second largest in the world. The nesting season runs from around May to September and within approximately 60 days of nesting, the hatchlings too are in danger.

It is too soon to have counts, but the yearly numbers will reveal the losses. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be reporting the 2004 figures early next year.

There are other dangers to our sea turtles. The turtle hospital in Marathon, Florida treats a variety of turtle ailments, such as flipper amputations caused by fishing line and trap rope entanglements, shell damage caused by boat collisions, and intestinal impactions caused by ingestion of foreign material such as plastic bags, balloons and fishing lines. Turtles love jellyfish and shrimp and ingest filters from cigarettes and plastic in error. Turtles that died from starvation were found with a stomach full of cigarette filters.

The most recent nesting totals for Florida's turtles from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the year 2003 is:

Loggerheads: 63,446

Green Turtles: 2262

Leatherbacks: 842

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THE SEA TURTLES?

1. Never throw litter on the beach or in the water.

2. If pets are allowed on the beach, keep them leashed at all times.

3. Obey all beach rules and stay away from turtle nesting sites.

4. Help spread the word about sea turtles. The more people know, the more they will want to help them.

5. Watch for turtles while boating.

6. During nesting seasons, turn lights facing the beach off or have proper filters.

7. Participate in local beach and reef cleanups.

8. Do not buy sea turtle products-jewelry, oil, leather, meat or eggs.

Kathy Runk has been a volunteer exhibit guide at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, volunteer for the Save the Manatee Club in Florida, attended Dolphinlab in Marathon, Florida and adopted Elsie the manatee, dolphins Merina and her baby Calusa. Kathy is the owner of http://www.myoceantreasures.com that sells ocean themed jewelry and gifts.


MORE RESOURCES:

Washington Examiner

Fishing the North Coast:Plenty of options for weekend steelheaders
Times-Standard
Roe, shrimp pink yarn, and a pink Fish Pill did the trick for Ted Olson of Brookings who landed this nice hatchery steelhead Monday on the Smith River. Olson was fishing with Mike Coopman of Mike Coopman's Guide Service.
Nymph fishing good on Fall RiverBend Bulletin
Feb. 10-12: CNY ice fishing scene continues to take hit with warm winterSyracuse.com (blog)
FISHING REPORT: For Feb. 8Press-Enterprise
The Seattle Times -Sacramento Bee -Detroit Free Press
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Pike, perch fishing flourish on Devils Lake
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune
By Brad Dokken, Grand Forks Herald DEVILS LAKE, ND (WTW) — Mark Bry had already been fishing a couple of hours, and the day was off to a great start. The football-size perch in the back of his vehicle were proof. He'd been on the ice at first light, ...

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Wash. Supreme Court upholds tribal fishing rights
TheNewsTribune.com
The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that the state cannot police tribal fishermen at a Columbia River fishing site south of Goldendale. By SHANNON DININNY; Associated Press YAKIMA, Wash. — The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that the state ...
Yakama fisherman wins court battle over sturgeonYakima Herald-Republic

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Today's THV

Ark. lake to be fishing hole for youth, disabled
Stuttgart Daily Leader
By AP AP The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission says Mom's Lake, near Corning, is the latest addition to the Family and Community Fishing Program. Ben Williams Jr. and his family donated the nine-acre lake to the commission so that local children, ...
Mom's Lake now open for fishingKAIT

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Kansas City Star

Fishing report for Feb. 9
Kansas City Star
The fishing for both has been excellent this week, with bass being caught on both the main lake and in the creeks and crappies biting in main-lake brush. • NORFORK: 48 degrees, muddy in the creeks, clear on the main lake, 1 foot high.
Northern California fishing reportSan Jose Mercury News
Recent rains slow fishing on St. JohnMonroe News Star
Fishing Report From TWRAThe Chattanoogan
The Daily Progress -Washington Examiner -Norwich Bulletin
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CBS Local

Pipe Fishing Club gives ice warning
Fox11online.com
PIPE - With sturgeon spearing set to begin in two days, another fishing club is putting out an ice warning. The Pipe Fishing Club on the east shore of Lake Winnebago reminds people that ice conditions vary greatly across the lake.
Fish & Game urging ice fishermen to to ultra cautious for derbyThe Laconia Daily Sun
Crazy temps make ice fishing dangerousChicago Daily Herald
Officials urge ice derby participants to be carefulThe Union Leader
CBS Local
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Hunting & Fishing Calendar
Bend Bulletin
Please email Hunting & Fishing event information to sports@bendbulletin.com or click on “Submit an Event” on our website at bendbulletin.com. Items are published on a space-availability basis, and should be submitted at least 10 days before the event.

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Esau Wants Local Fish Brand
AllAfrica.com
By Nico Smit, 9 February 2012 THE Ministry of Fisheries will concentrate on the development of aquaculture, as well as facilitate the participation of new fishing rights holders in all aspects of fishing in 2012. Speaking at his annual address to staff ...

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Arizona Capitol Times

Outdoors: Bill would protect hunting, fishing rights
Poughkeepsie Journal
If you've been hunting or fishing recently and have a big catch to show off, the Journal would like to hear from you. Send any photos of your accomplishment to players@poughkeepsiejournal.com and include your name, hometown and any details of your ...
Monitor Board of Contributors Several bad ideas on hunting, wildlifeConcord Monitor

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KELOLAND TV

Fish And Flooding: The Results Are In
KELOLAND TV
"While people were sandbagging and doing that sort of thing we didn't feel it was the time to discuss the fishing issues, so we wanted to wait until some of that subsided," South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Fisheries Administrator Geno Adams said.

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