BOATERS TO BE AWARE OF ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS OF BARNEGAT BAY

With the summer boating and tourism season kicking into high gear, the Department of Environmental Protection is reminding boaters to use caution while navigating ecologically sensitive areas of Barnegat Bay.

The reduction of impacts from boats and personal watercraft within Barnegat Bay’s critical ecosystems, including wetlands, aquatic vegetation, shellfish and fish habitats, is part of the Christie Administration’s comprehensive plan to protect and restore the bay.

“Barnegat Bay is one of New Jersey’s most cherished locations and it offers great recreational opportunities,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “But we ask for help from the boating community in protecting the ecologically sensitive areas of the bay.”

An online interactive map for boaters, which can be accessed on mobile devices and computers, is available so they can easily ascertain the locations of 16 designated ecologically sensitive zones on Barnegat Bay. Users also can find helpful services such as the locations of marinas, sewage pump-out facilities, bait-and-tackle shops, launches and ramps, restrooms, and places to dispose trash.

To view the map, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/barnegatbay/plan-watercraft-map.htm

The green boating effort is being done cooperatively with the boating and fishing industries in New Jersey, which are vital to the economic and recreational needs of the state.

“We work to preserve and protect our natural resources and provide boaters with the information and tools they need to do their part.” said Melissa Danko, Executive Director of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey. “Spending summers on the water and enjoying all that New Jersey’s waterways have to offer is a way of life for so many residents and visitors.  That is why it is so important that we work together to protect these natural resources for this and future generations."

Barnegat Bay's 75-square-mile, environmentally sensitive estuarine system is home to plants, fish and other wildlife that populate these areas in the bay. They contain submerged aquatic vegetation which acts as nursery grounds for fish and wildlife. Motor boat propellers and turbulence caused by boat wakes can disturb and harm these special areas.

Continued green boater outreach efforts include additional distribution of green boater posters to marinas and public access areas along Barnegat Bay.

The DEP encourages boaters to take these actions to help keep the bay vibrant:

• Stay out of restricted areas set aside for wildlife. 
• Do not harass nesting birds and other animals
• Maintain a 100-foot distance from natural shorelines
• Minimize wakes in all shallow areas to help reduce erosion and harm to aquatic plants and animals
• Buoy mooring chains and lines to prevent them from scraping on the Bay bottom and harming submerged aquatic vegetation
• Appreciate wildlife from a distance
• Reduce air pollution by not idling in open water

For more tips on how to become a green boater and reduce your impact to Barnegat Bay and other state waters, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/barnegatbay/docs/BoaterESA.pdf

You can also reference the Clean Boating tip sheets for boaters through the Clean Marina Program: http://www.nj.gov/dep/njcleanmarina/boaters.htm

For more information on the Barnegat Bay Action Plan, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/barnegatbay/

Pennsylvania Adds Ten More Counties to the Drought Watch

DEP Expands Drought Watch from 27 to 37 Counties

Lack of significant precipitation major factor

Despite several recent precipitation events, portions of Pennsylvania continue to have below-average precipitation, below-average groundwater levels, and in some areas, below-average surface water levels. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has expanded its drought watch declaration from 27 to 37 counties across Pennsylvania.

The 10 additional counties under the drought watch issued today are: Bedford, Blair, Centre, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lehigh, Mifflin, and Northampton.

The 27 counties that remain under drought watch are: Berks, Bradford, Cambria, Carbon, Clinton, Columbia, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Westmoreland, and Wyoming. These counties were originally put on a drought watch on March 24.

The expanded declaration was recommended following a June 8 meeting of the state’s Drought Task Force. The very dry fall and below-normal precipitation from January to May continues to contribute to low groundwater and surface water levels throughout the state. Many counties, including some under drought watch, have recently had rapid, heavy rain events. These rain events cause erosion and typically do not improve conditions for ground water and soil moisture.

A drought watch declaration is the first and least-severe level of the state’s three drought classifications. It calls for a voluntary five percent reduction in non-essential water use and puts large water consumers on notice to begin planning for the possibility of reduced water supplies.

All Pennsylvanians are advised to heed this drought watch by conserving their water use and consumption. To reduce their water use, residents can:
• Run water only when absolutely necessary; and avoid keeping water flowing while brushing teeth, or turning on the shower many minutes before use;
• Check for household leaks – a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day;
• Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads;
• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40 to 50 percent less energy; and
• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.

DEP will notify all water suppliers in the affected areas of the need to monitor their supplies, particularly those that rely upon groundwater, and update their drought contingency plans as necessary.

DEP also offers water conservation recommendations and water audit procedures for commercial and industrial users, such as food processors, hotels, and educational institutions.
 

Oldest Banded Bald Eagle Found in Henrietta, NY

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staff responded to a report of a deceased eagle alongside a road in Henrietta, Monroe County, on Tuesday, June 2. According to the bald eagle's leg band number, it was 38 years old. The USGS Banding Lab Longevity Records indicate that the eagle is the oldest banded bald eagle encountered in the nation to date--by five years.

"This record eagle is a testament to the diligent conservation and restoration work done under New York's Bald Eagle Restoration Program," said Executive Deputy Commissioner, Marc Gerstman. "It's truly noteworthy that this eagle lived a long life and thrived in New York, returning to his New York nest site to continue breeding. DEC's work to conserve habitat and ensure clean air and clean water for bald eagles and many of the other fish and wildlife is ongoing, including participation in many research programs to ensure these species continue to thrive in New York State."

According to banding records, this bird was a nestling originally brought from Lake Puposky in northern Minnesota as part of New York's Bald Eagle Restoration Program, one of only five young eagles raised and released at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in the second year of the program. The eagle was banded at few months of age in Seneca Falls, Seneca County, in August of 1977 and raised and released at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Once it reached breeding age in 1981, it began nesting at Hemlock Lake, now part of Hemlock-Canadice State Forest.

The Hemlock Lake nest territory continued on, and this eagle, banded as 03142, became a steady and successful father to many eaglets fledged from that site for many more years.

Peter Nye, retired DEC Wildlife Biologist, who spearheaded New York's Bald Eagle Restoration Program reflected on the early days of the program stated, "When we banded 03142 on August 5, 1977 and had no idea how very special and significant this young bald eagle would become to our nascent bald eagle restoration program. Based on his recent recovery near this site, we have to assume he has been the resident male, breeding here for the past 34 years. That's quite a stretch, and likely a record in itself. His longevity, 38 years, although ingloriously cut short by a motor vehicle, is also a National record for known life-span of a wild bald eagle. All I can say is, hats off too you 03142; job well done!"

Following a national ban on the chemical pesticide, DDT in 1972 and prohibitions against taking or killing bald eagles in the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, New York State initiated a Bald Eagle Restoration Project in 1976 to reestablish a breeding population.

The state hosted one remaining unproductive bald eagle nest on Hemlock Lake in Livingston County. As an attempt to reestablish a small breeding population in New York State, DEC released 23 fledgling bald eagles at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in 1976 - 1980. In 1980, the resident male of the state's last native pair of eagles at Hemlock Lake was tragically found shot to death near the nest.

Over a 13-year period, 198 nestling bald eagles were collected from nests in other states, raised to independence with minimal human contact (a technique known as hacking), and released in New York. The hacked eagles flourished and many of them returned to New York to nest and breed. The hacking program concluded in 1988 because of its overwhelming success, surpassing its original goal of 10 nesting pairs of bald eagles in New York. Today, New York supports 350 pairs of nesting bald eagles.

The record eagle, found with a freshly killed rabbit nearby and apparently had been hit by a vehicle. Vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of eagle deaths in New York State, accounting for more than 30 percent of known recorded mortality.

“S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna!” Campaign Aims to Help Sick Bass

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced that it has launched an “S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna!” campaign to fund water and soil conservation projects along the Susquehanna River, whose young smallmouth bass population has been plagued over the last decade by illness and elevated mortality rates.

 

“The Susquehanna River is sick and someone has to take steps to fix it before it is too late,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “This is about conservation and protecting our aquatic resources so they may be enjoyed by future generations as guaranteed by our state constitution. We need leadership to begin working on fixing problems that we know exist.”

 

“The PFBC’s very mission of Resource First requires us to step up our efforts to help our smallmouth fishery before it’s too late,” he added. “The time for action is now. This campaign will help fund projects to reduce known sources of pollution in critical areas where diseased bass have been found.”

 

Examples of some projects include:

• Identifying sites and working with willing farmers and colleges and universities to test soils and reduce nutrient and sediment run-off to control nuisance algae blooms that produce low oxygen levels and high pH conditions that are harmful to young bass;  and
• Working with physicians and hospitals throughout the basin to keep pharmaceutical drugs and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) out of the river because of the harmful effects that they cause to fish.

From now until the end of the year, the PFBC expects to receive $3 million in revenue from sales of approximately 130,000 resident annual, senior resident annual, and non-resident annual licenses. Under the S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna! campaign, once the $3 million threshold is met, all additional sales from the three licenses will be dedicated solely to funding Susquehanna River projects.

 

“To kick off the campaign, we are pledging $50,000 in matching funds from the Commission,” Arway said. “I’m optimistic that we will raise and exceed the $50,000 from anglers, other conservationists, and anyone who cares about our natural resources and supports our efforts to do everything in our power to protect and conserve them.”

 

“Once we raise $50,000, the S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna! campaign will have its first $100,000 to begin working on projects to fix the river,” he added.

 

The campaign coincides with the upcoming start of bass season on June 13.

 

“Bass fishing is about to start, and memories of what bass fishing used to be like on the Susquehanna are on the minds of all anglers,” Arway said. “By announcing the campaign now, we hope that our avid anglers will share the news with colleagues and friends who may not fish, but care about the river and will want to contribute to help save it.”

 

Arway added that anyone can contribute to the campaign by purchasing a fishing license.

 

“The fishing license is simply the mechanism we’re using to raise the funds,” he said. “You don’t have to be an angler. You just have to care about the Susquehanna River. By buying an annual fishing license, you can help make this campaign a success.”

 

Arway added that by supporting this campaign, individuals can also help the Chesapeake Bay, which is fed by the Susquehanna River. “If you care about the Chesapeake Bay, buy a Pennsylvania fishing license to help us fix the river, which will also help to ‘Save the Bay.’”

 

A resident annual fishing license is $20; senior resident annual $9; and non-resident annual $50.

 

Also, individuals can further demonstrate their support by purchasing a special S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna button for just $10. A fishing license is required in order to purchase the button and all proceeds from the button sales will also go to fund the campaign. Buttons will be available to purchase on June 8.

 

Arway added that anglers and individuals also have the option of contributing to the campaign by writing a check to “S.O.S. – Save Our Susquehanna” and mailing it to the PFBC headquarters at P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106.

 

Fishing licenses and buttons can be purchased online through the PFBC’s Outdoor Shop or at any of 900 licensing agents across the Commonwealth.

 

“Help us help the river,” Arway added. “The smallmouth bass need your support today.”

 

Rare Cancer in Susquehanna River Smallmouth Bass

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced that two independent laboratory tests have confirmed a malignant, or cancerous, tumor on a single smallmouth bass (SMB) caught in the middle Susquehanna River by an angler late last year and provided to the PFBC. The announcement was made during the PFBC’s quarterly business meeting held here today.

 

Cancerous growths and tumors on fish are extremely rare in Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S., but they do occur. This is the only documented case of this type of tumor being found on SMB in Pennsylvania. The finding was confirmed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory at Michigan State University.

 

PFBC Executive Director John Arway said that although the finding represents only one individual fish from the overall population, it provides additional evidence that the health of the fish community residing in the river is being compromised.

 

“As we continue to study the river, we find young-of-year and now adult bass with sores, lesions and more recently a cancerous tumor, all of which continue to negatively impact population levels and recreational fishing,” he said. “The weight-of-evidence continues to build a case that we need to take some action on behalf of the fish.”

 

Since 2005, PFBC biologists have observed more than 22,000 adult SMB as part of routine surveys in the Susquehanna River basin and have not documented any fish with obvious signs of tumors. However, PFBC biologists continue to find sores and lesions on young-of-year bass during late spring and early summer surveys at alarming rates.

 

Dr. Karen Murphy, acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, said “There is no evidence that carcinomas in fish present any health hazard to humans. However, people should avoid consuming fish that have visible signs of sores and lesions."

 

Arway added that anglers must make personal decisions on whether or not to consume fish. He also noted that catch-and-release regulations for SMB are already in place on 98 miles of the middle portion of the Susquehanna River where the symptomatic fish was captured and on the lower 31.7 miles of the Juniata River from Port Royal to the mouth.

 

The PFBC first documented disease-related mortality of young-of-year SMB in the Susquehanna River in 2005. The continued mortality has contributed to the decline in abundance of SMB. Since 2012, the PFBC has unsuccessfully petitioned the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to add the river to the state’s bi-annual list of impaired waterways.

 

“The impairment designation is critical because it starts a timeline for developing a restoration plan,” said Arway. “We’ve known the river has been sick since 2005, when we first started seeing lesions on the smallmouth. Now we have more evidence to further the case for impairment.”

 

“If we do not act to address the water quality issues in the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania risks losing what is left of what was once considered a world-class smallmouth bass fishery,” he said. “DEP is expected to release its 2016 list of impaired waters in late fall. We are urging them once again to follow the science and add the Susquehanna River to the list.”

 

PFBC biologists conduct annual young-of-year and adult SMB surveys on this stretch of the river from late June through the end of October when sampling conditions are appropriate. In addition, the PFBC has enlisted the assistance of certain anglers and guides to provide fish with obvious masses or lesions if they encounter any when fishing the river.

 

PFBC staff are continuing to work with DEP, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other partners to focus efforts on better understanding what factors are impacting the SMB inhabiting the middle Susquehanna and lower Juniata rivers.

 

PHOTO CAPTION – Smallmouth bass with confirmed malignant tumor. Caught by angler in Susquehanna River near Duncannon, Dauphin County, on Nov. 3, 2014. Photo credit: John Arway

New FishBoatPA App Shows Real-Time Stockings, Nearby Streams

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today unveiled a new smartphone app to help anglers and boaters better navigate the Keystone State’s streams and lakes. The “FishBoatPA” app will help Pennsylvania’s fish and boat community to see which waters have been stocked with trout, how to get to those locations easily, and what other access areas are near their current fishing spot.

 

The new “FishBoatPA” app is now available for free on both Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

According to PFBC Executive Director John Arway, the goal of the app is to meet the needs of anglers who are increasingly using smartphones.

 

“We want to make it as easy as possible to access our stocking information and purchase a fishing license,” he said. “The use of smartphones has skyrocketed, so we have found a way to improve the fishing and boating experience for our anglers and boaters. Now they can spend less time looking for information and more time fishing and boating.”

 

First Lady Frances Wolf, a relative newbie to the angling world, tries to make time to fly-fish a few times a year. 

 

“I’m excited to explore the beautiful streams of our state with this new tool,” First Lady Wolf commented. “I may finally be able to improve my technique with the FishBoatPA app – it will certainly work better than the “How To” books I usually carry with me!”

 

On the PFBC website, the stocking page is the most visited by far, with anglers generating more than 1.2 million visits to the page each year. So when the FishBoatPA app opens, the first item anglers see is an “Upcoming Trout Stocking” link, which updates in real-time.

 

Users can sort stocking schedules by county. The app is tied directly into the PFBC’s online stocking schedule, so anglers can see past and upcoming stockings and the type of trout placed in a water. GIS coordinates allow users to use mapping apps installed on their phones to get directions to their favorite stocking site.

 

The “Near Me” feature uses a phone’s GIS coordinates to locate and display trout waters within 5, 15, 25 and 50 miles of the user.

 

Another prominent feature on the app home page is the link “Get a license today.” This enables users to find an issuing agent near them and to see pricing options for licenses.

 

The app also links to a “Fish ID” guide with color pictures; a “Learn” section with links to helpful information like tying knots and learning how to properly handle fish; and to PFBC rules and regulations.

 

Another option is a “My Trophies” section where anglers can post pictures to share with others using the app. Users can add a title, fish weight and length, the date they landed the fish, and their comments, like the type of lure they used. They can then share their trophies by email, text message or through social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

 

Arway said additional content and enhancements will be added in the coming months to make the app even more appealing to anglers and boaters.

The Best Time to Fish Mystery Revealed

When you take into account all the water flow data, the water temperature, the hatch du jour, the Solunar tables, the tides, the moon phase, the flowers that are blooming, and the price of tea in China, the best time to go fishing is when you can, where you can, and for what you can. Just play the cards you're dealt and enjoy the game.

One other important consideration, and I'm being serious here, is to fish far from the cell towers. I don't know if it's the electromagnetic fields, but when you're away from the towers I've noticed that your phone doesn't ring. And that just makes a good thing better.

New York Ponds Experience "Winterkill"

Late Ice Contributes to Natural Phenomenon

The extended period of ice, blanketed by deep snow, is likely to result in fish die-offs in numerous western New York ponds, according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 9 fisheries biologists.

"As winter ice has started to melt away, we are receiving calls from concerned pond owners reporting large numbers of dead fish in their ponds," said DEC Regional Fisheries Manager Michael Clancy. "In most cases, fish kills that become evident when the ice melts can be attributed to a natural phenomenon known as winterkill."

Winter die-off of fish, or "winterkill," is caused by oxygen depletion in the water through the winter. Ice that accumulates on ponds or lakes prevents wind action from adding oxygen to the water. If there is significant winter snow accumulation on top of the ice, sunlight is prevented from reaching plant life in the pond. Without adequate sunlight, the oxygen-creating process of photosynthesis cannot occur.

Shallower ponds are particularly susceptible to winterkill, due to their low storage capacity for oxygen. With the exception of extreme situations, it is rare that all fish in a pond will die as a result of winterkill. Typically, larger fish are more susceptible than smaller fish.

"Sensitivity to low oxygen levels varies by fish species," Clancy said. "For instance, catfish and carp are more tolerant of low oxygen levels than species such as sunfish, bass or trout."

If desirable fish species are completely eliminated from the pond due to winterkill, replenishment by stocking may be necessary. Please remember to obtain applicable stocking permits from DEC.

A long-term approach to avoiding winterkills is to deepen the pond. Pond depths exceeding 12 feet are recommended since ponds will gradually fill in over time. Removing some of the organic substrate (decaying plant material) that accumulates within the pond can also help combat oxygen depletion. As a pond ages, organic materials are deposited on the pond bottom; these decaying materials have a high metabolic demand for oxygen.

Pennsylvania Withdraws Delayed Harvest Proposal

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced today that it has withdrawn a proposal to change the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) regulations after receiving public comments overwhelmingly opposed to the measure.

 

The PFBC Board of Commissioners approved the withdrawal of the proposal and the end of the public comment period in a vote conducted this week.

 

“The DHALO program is a stocked trout program, and social factors play a critical role in how the program is managed,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “The proposed changes were designed to do two things: first, maximize the harvest of stocked trout before stream temperatures increase to lethal levels and, second, increase the opportunity for kids to catch fish.”

 

“The proposed changes generated much public comment in which questions were posed that would require substantial staff time and effort to fully answer,” he added. “Therefore, we believe that we need to withdraw this idea and focus on identifying other changes where we can more easily accomplish these objectives.”

 

Approved at the PFBC’s January 2015 quarterly business meeting, the proposal included the following:

• Move the start of the trout harvest period from June 15 to the Saturday before Memorial Day.
• Allow the use of bait by all anglers during the trout harvest period.
• Allow youth anglers under the age of 16 to use bait year-round in DHALO areas.
• Change the minimum length limit from 9 inches to 7 inches.

As of March 31, the agency had received 343 comments, with all but five opposed to the proposal. A main concern expressed by the individuals was the use of bait during the harvest period. 

 

First launched in 1983, the DHALO program is designed to make more stocked trout available later in the season. The current regulations allow harvest only between June 15 and Labor Day, have a minimum size limit of nine inches, and a creel limit of three fish. The waters are open to fishing year-round.

Pennsylvania Changes Striped Bass Regulations

Changes to Striped Bass Regulations Effective March 1

 

 

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is alerting anglers to several changes to striped bass regulations in the Delaware River and Delaware Estuary which will take effect March 1 in order to meet requirements of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The changes apply only to the Pennsylvania side of the river and estuary. The Delaware River in Pennsylvania, for the purposes of striped bass management, is divided into two sections known as the Estuary and the Delaware River.

 

Beginning March 1, the creel limit for striped bass in the Estuary – defined as the Pennsylvania/Delaware state line upstream to the Calhoun Street Bridge – will be reduced to one fish from January 1 through March 31 and from June 1 through December 31. The creel limit is currently set at two. As in the recent past, fish must be at least 28 inches.

 

For the remaining two months, from April 1 through May 31, the slot length limit will be changed to 21-25 inches. The current slot limit is 20-26 inches. During this two-month period, the creel limit will remain at two fish per day.

In the Delaware River upstream of the Estuary – defined as upstream from the Calhoun Street Bridge – the creel limit for striped bass will be reduced from two fish to one. The river is open year-round with a minimum size of 28 inches.

 

“This action is being taken to meet the requirements of ASMFC’s management plan for striped bass, which calls for management actions when the coast-wide spawning stock biomass (SSB) or fishing mortality rates reach thresholds set within the plan,” said Leroy Young, PFBC Director of the Bureau of Fisheries.

 

Young explained that the SSB threshold is 127 million pounds, and the current SSB is just above this at 128 million pounds. At the current fishing mortality rates, there is concern that the SSB will fall below the threshold in the near future. In addition to these concerns, recruitment of young fish has been relatively low in many of the years since 2004.

 

In response to these concerns, the ASFMC Striped Bass Management Board, which includes the PFBC as a member, has directed all coastal states to reduce fishing mortality rates by 25% beginning in 2015. These revised length and creel limits are designed to meet those requirements.