Overview of the Alligator Gar Conservation Management Plan for Alabama

1. Overview of the Alligator Gar Conservation Management Plan for Alabama Dave Armstrong Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Spanish Fort, Alabama, 36527 Phone: 251-626-5153. Email: david.armstrong@dcnr.state.al.gov

2. Alligator gar history • Prior to 1990’s, Alligator gar were fairly common, relatively easy to catch. • Alligator gar provided a late summer fishery when “nothing else would bite”. • A

3. Alligator gar abundant?, ~1985

4. Alligator Gar Fishing Regulations • Prior to 1992, No bag limit. Status is a “Regulated Non-game” fish. 220-2-.45 • Due to significant harvest in early 1990’s, a bag limit was promulgated at 2 fish/angler/day. ( October 1, 1992. 220-2-.105. )

5. Alligator Gar Public Meeting. • Interest in Alligator gar spurred a public meeting to discuss population status, concerns, & ideas about management. • Alli-gar anglers were invited to talk openly in informal meeting, October 12, 2004. • Various ideas were discussed RE: Population restoration & enhancement objectives.

6. What did we learn from anglers? • Angler groups were self-regulating with Alli-gar harvest well below the current limit! In fact, most Alabama bow anglers harvest less than 1 alli-gar per year! • Hook & line anglers utilize catch & release. • Alli-gar pops. are diminished, but feel that numbers are stable…maybe recovering?

7. Alligator Gar Fishing Regulations • Because current perceived angler harvest was low, an updated regulation was promulgated that satisfied both anglers and Alligator gar recovery plans. • Bag limit changed from 2 to 1 fish/angler/day. ( October 1, 2005. 220-2-.35. )

8. Some anglers really like gar… • A small number of anglers really enjoy catching alligator gar. Interest in this fish among anglers was spurred on by harvest of a new state record, August 13, 2004. • This new record Alli-gar also generated great interest from biologists. So, we asked “what else can we do to conserve this fish for future anglers, enthusiasts?”

9. State Record, August 13, 2004151 lbs, 7’ 6”

10. State Record, August 13, 2004151 lbs, 7’ 6”

11. Natural Disturbances & Gar • Drought or low rainfall since 1999. • Increased fall salinities, reduced flows and water quality, increases or changes in vegetation. • Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina result in fish kills. • What are effects??

12. Hurricanes & gar mortality? • 2 weeks Post-Hurricane Ivan (9-16-04), surface D.O. levels in some Upper Delta sites were as low as 0.8 mg/L. Substantial fish kills occurred – large paddlefish > 30”. • 1 week Post-Hurricane Katrina (8-29-05), surface D.O. levels were > 4.4 mg/L, but as low as 1.1 mg/L at depths of 1.5 to 3 m. • NO DEAD Alligator gar, but…what if?

13. Alligator gar & potential mortality • Alligator gar are susceptible to both natural & fishing mortality. • We can control fishing mortality using bag or length limits. • BUT, we can’t control a natural disaster. What if climatic events result in a negative effect on the population?

14. Let’s make a plan!!! • For ALL these reasons, we felt a conservation management plan was due. • A DRAFT plan was developed in 2007.

15. Management Plan - Goal Conserve and enhance current population of Alligator gar for increased angling opportunities in a unique Alabama fishery.

16. Management Plan – Objective 1 • Evaluate status of hatchery stock. At MFH, currently holding 5 adult Alli-gar (131-165cm captured during 2005. Six (6) Alli-gar captured March 3-April 5. 147.1 net-hours = 24.5 net-hours / Alli-gar Capture at 16.2 - 18.9 C, late am, rising tide. 68.6 & 22.6m x 1.8m x 10.2cm bar multi.

17. Management Plan – Objective 2 2. Collect additional brood stock Alli-gar. 1. Determine additional number needed? a. Ensure adequate facilities for captive breeding & rearing program. 2. Develop techniques to increase sampling efficacy. Begin Spring 2008.

18. Management Plan – Objective 3 • Maintain brood-rearing population. 1. Is a brood population feasible? Consider routine care & spawning frequency…probably not annually. 2. Maintain larval & juvenile rearing facilities until preferred stock-size.

19. Management Plan – Objective 4 • Establish Alligator gar stocking guideline. 1. Determine optimum size at stocking. 2. Determine preferred habitats for restocking juvenile Alli-gar. 3. Determine water bodies stocked.

20. Management Plan – Objective 5 • Monitor Alligator gar populations. 1. Establish monitoring plan. a. Tag with PIT, OTC, FLOY? 2. Monitoring could involve cooperator anglers. 3. Identify Spawning-rearing habitats.

21. Management Plan – Objective 6 • Develop management guidelines 1. Institute trophy tag system? a. Mandatory report by all anglers. 2. Consider angler-based diary report? 3. Consider minimum size limit?

22. Management Plan – Objective 7 • Identify Habitat Restoration Projects. 1. What are “preferred” habitats? 2. Identify areas with spawning & rearing habitats.

23. Conclusions • ADWFF is concerned about Alligator Gar populations in Alabama. • Conservation Management Plan work objectives should begin in 2008. • ADWFF wants input to provide a plan with a high measure of success.