Anglers Prefer Dream Catches Over Invasive Fish that Threaten Maine Lakes

Out and About for the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine April 28-May 4
April 27, 2011
Out and About for the Greater Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine May 5-11
May 4, 2011

Anglers Prefer Dream Catches Over Invasive Fish that Threaten Maine Lakes


Fishing in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine
Joseph Dembeck, Fisheries Management Supervisor at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), spoke at the 2011 Milfoil Summit about  the severity of invasive fish in Maine.
Invasive fish species are fish NOT native to Maine. Illegal introductions of any fish species is the largest threat to Maine’s fish population and cause irreversible changes to entire aquatic ecosystems. Strategies to eliminate or control invasive fish are difficult to design and implement, costly, and are only effective in limited situations.
Since 2006, “there have been 71 illegal introductions of fish species reported–most confirmed, and some unconfirmed but most likely probable,” Joe told the group gathered at the USM-Lewiston/Auburn campus. Three leaders in this group are largemouth bass, northern pike and smallmouth bass.
He further explained that invasives prey upon existing fish species, compete with them for food and habitat, expand upstream and downstream from where they were introduced, and transmit diseases.
Joe described the following reasons for people to move fish around:
Angler’s Desire–increased fishing opportunity
Reduce Travel–want to bring fish species existing elsewhere
Fatter Fish–increase forage available for existing fish population
License PhD–resident and non-resident, licensed anglers know what’s right for water body or right for the species
Bait Dealer’s Secret Water–find water no one knows about
Purposeful Harm–mad at someone on the lake or at MDIFW
Through educating the public including anglers, children, bait dealers and private pond owners, the MDIFW staff is working to control and prevent further illegal introductions. The transfer or stocking of any fish species without MDIFW approval is illegal. According to Joe, “If you encounter an unknown fish species, retain it and get it to a biologist. Take pictures and GPS coordinates.”
When the MDIFW staff is told of a fish, they first must confirm the identification to make sure it is not misidentified. Then they look at where it can move to, where they can potentially contain it, what treatment options are available, what options can be implemented and how to monitor the body of water following the treatment. Part of their work involves deciding whether to limit the ability of the fish species to colonize the watershed or limit its ability to reproduce.
The good news, according to Joe, is that Maine doesn’t have the problem to the scale and scope that most other states have.
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