Population characteristics of channel catfish near the northern edge of their distribution: implications for management
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Abstract
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), populations in six lakes in northern Idaho, USA, were sampled to describe their population characteristics. During the summers of 2011 and 2012, 4864 channel catfish were sampled. Channel catfish populations had low to moderate catch rates, and length structure was dominated by fish <400 mm. Channel catfish were in good body condition. All populations were maintained by stocking age-1 or age-2 fish. Growth of fish reared in thermally enriched environments prior to stocking was fast compared to other North American channel catfish populations. After stocking, growth of channel catfish declined rapidly. Once stocked, cold water temperatures, prey resources and (or) genetic capabilities limited growth. Total annual mortality of age 2 and older channel catfish was generally <40%. Tag returns indicated that angler exploitation was low, varying from 0 to 43% among lakes. This research provides insight on factors regulating channel catfish population dynamics and highlights important considerations associated with their ecology and management.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Population characteristics of channel catfish near the northern edge of their distribution: implications for management |
| Series title | Fisheries Management and Ecology |
| DOI | 10.1111/fme.12156 |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
| Publisher location | New York, NY |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Seattle |
| Description | 9 p. |
| First page | 530 |
| Last page | 538 |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |