| Since the program began, more than 15,000 carcasses have yielded data. |
The old saying that one person's trash is another's treasure takes on new meaning in Georgia where the fish carcasses that anglers would normally throw away are proving to be a gold mine of information for coastal resource managers. Anglers also reap the reward of participating in the conservation and management of the sport fish population.
"When fishermen ask, 'Why are you doing this and doing that?' I always like to say, 'Here's a direct opportunity to contribute to the management of the species,'" says Paul Medders, marine biologist with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
This direct opportunity is the Marine Sportfish Carcass Recovery Project where anglers place the filleted fish carcasses, which normally would be thrown away, in freezers strategically placed at marinas along the coast. The carcasses are then collected and analyzed to determine species, length, gender, and age. All of these data are used when determining the health of a fish population.
"The project is a true partnership of anglers, businesses, conservation groups, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources," says Jeff Mericle, a marine technician with the Coastal Resources Division.
Georgia got the idea for the project in 1997 after learning about a similar program in South Carolina. Officials began by talking with marina operators, seven of whom committed to putting a freezer by their fish cleaning stations. Medders notes that most of the marinas even pay for the freezer's electricity, and the Georgia Power Foundation is providing funding. An article about the program in a state newspaper asked for angler cooperation.
Signs identify the freezers and provide specific instructions. The freezers are kept stocked with plastic bags. Division staff check and clean the freezers weekly during peak fishing season and twice a month during slower times.
When anglers donate a head-and-tail-intact fish carcass, they fill out a card that asks for their contact information, as well as a description of where and when the fish was caught, and other general information about their fishing trip. An angler who donates three carcasses receives a special T-shirt, hat, or other incentive. All donors receive follow-up newsletters to let them know about the type of data collected and the status of the program.
The donor database allows the state to track the number and types of carcasses received. Since the program began, more than 15,000 carcasses have yielded data.
The data are used to assess if specific fish species are being harvested at a rate that exceeds their capacity for reproduction. Mericle notes that if division staff had to collect the 4,825 fish used in a recent assessment of the Georgia spotted sea trout, it would have taken hundreds of man-hours and cost thousands of dollars. They also were able to verify the accuracy of the carcass data by comparing the information with samples from past creel surveys.
"I consider it a success," Medders says. "With the number of fish collected and the way the anglers feel about it, we're pleased and plan to add more freezers in the future. The data that we're getting for the money just can't be beat."
For more information about the Georgia Marine Sportfish Carcass Recovery Project, contact Paul Medders or Jeff Mericle at (912) 264-7218.
