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Paddlefish Restoration in Pennsylvania
Assessment Results for 2005 |
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| Paddlefish are native to the Ohio and Allegheny River systems in PA. However, a combination of extremely poor water
quality and the lock and dam navigation system lead to paddlefish demise in the Three Rivers after 1919. Water quality
recovered substantially in the Three Rivers after about 1980 and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission began a paddlefish
restoration program in 1991. An average of 6,800 paddlefish have been stocked annually. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
State Wildlife Grant was secured to evaluate the paddlefish population status and relative abundance during 2005 and
2006.
During spring and summer 2005, researchers from California University of Pennsylvania successfully captured three
paddlefish from Commonwealth waters. This was the first intensive effort to capture paddlefish with sampling
gear since the program began in 1991. On May 12, 2005 a 32 lb. fish was recovered below Dashields Lock and Dam on the
Ohio River near Leetsdale, PA in a large-mesh gillnet (pictures below). Further inspection by Area Fisheries Manager
Rick Lorson confirmed that this fish was a mature female – perhaps 8-12 years old. |
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A 32-pound paddlefish from the Ohio River
Photos--Lora Belback |
Checking for a coded wire tag in a paddlefish
Photo--Lora Belback |
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| On May 17, 2005 another paddlefish was captured below Lock and Dam #3 on the Allegheny River near Harmarville, PA.
This fish, weighing in at 20 lbs. was evaluated in the field, checked for coded wire tags, re-tagged (PA participates
in a Mississippi River Basin paddlefish tagging project), and released within minutes of recovery. Researchers believed
this fish to be a male. |
20-pound paddlefish from the Allegheny River
Photo--Casey Bartkust |
Tagging
paddlefish before release
Photo--Lora Belback |
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| During surveys on the Monongahela River in late June, a third paddlefish was captured which is of particular significance
because the PA Fish and Boat Commission historically has not stocked this river. The location of its capture was at least
three lock and dam chambers from the nearest stocking location on either the Allegheny or Ohio Rivers. This fish weighed
only 2.5 lbs., but had an extremely full belly. Gut analysis by biologists at Horn Point Laboratory of the University
of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science confirmed the presence of a mix of zooplankton species indicative
of an abundant food resource for this filter-feeding species. |
Example of food item of paddlefish about the size of a pencil point
Source: http://cfb.unh.edu/CFBkey/index.html |
Paddlefish food item shown magnified 50 times
Photo--Adam Frederick |
Another
example of paddlefish food
Source: http://cfb.unh.edu/CFBkey/index.html |
2.5-pound paddlefish from the Mon River
Photo--Greg Sofranko |
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Efforts during 2005 to capture paddlefish provided important new information
about these secretive fishes. We now have evidence that there are paddlefish in the Three Rivers capable
of reproduction; that we have fishes moving among the various lock and dams within the Ohio, Allegheny,
and Monongahela Rivers; and that we have an abundant and complex zooplankton community as food for the
paddlefish. Sampling in 2006 will begin in early spring to provide additional information regarding paddlefish
population status and abundance. Results of this research will be incorporated into a Comprehensive Paddlefish
Management Plan for PA. The ultimate goals of these efforts are to establish a naturally reproducing
population and consider a limited sport fishery at some point in the future. |
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| -- Prepared by Rick Lorson,
Area 8 Fisheries Manager and Dr. David Argent, California University of PA |
Biologist Reports -- PFBC Home
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