Public meeting in Albuquerque on New Mexico fisheries management plan

ronloehman Announcements, Conservation, Events

There will be a public meeting in Albuquerque on New Mexico fisheries management plan on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:00 to 7:00 PM.

SANTA FE -The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment on the draft of a new fisheries management plan that will help guide the department’s efforts into the future.
The new plan includes management direction for specific waters, primary fish species and project priorities. The last comprehensive, statewide, fisheries management plan was adopted in 1987 and only covered sportfish.
The new draft plan includes sportfish as well native and non-game fish. The draft plan also includes information about hatchery operations, habitat restoration projects, specific watershed areas, angler survey data, fishery management priorities, funding and more.

The plan can be found on the department’s website at http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/commission/proposals-under-consideration.

The department is also conducting public meetings about the plan:
Albuquerque: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sept. 29, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Northwest Area Office, 3841 Midway Place NE, Albuquerque.
Roswell: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sept. 30, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Southeast Area Office, 1912 W. Second Street, Roswell.
Las Cruces: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Oct. 7, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Southwest Area Office, 2715 Northrise Drive, Las Cruces.
Raton: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Oct. 8, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Northeast Area Office, 215 York Canyon Road, Raton.

Public comments can be sent by email to DGF-StatewideFishPlan@state.nm.us. Please submit comments by October 31, 2015. For further information please contact Kirk Patten, Assistant Chief of Fisheries, at 505-476-8055.

Comment from Ron Loehman, NM Trout Conservation Chairman

The plan is very comprehensive and G&F has done a lot of very good work in evaluating and categorizing the New Mexico watersheds that support fish populations.  In my opinion the plan could be improved if additional waters were designated catch and release, for example the sections of the Chama below El Vado and Abiquiu dams. The wild trout in other streams that are also stocked with triploids could be catch and release while the stocked rainbows could be kept. There are plans for recreational stockings of RG Cutthroats in a number of streams, but I believe that the list should be expanded.

Go to the meeting and let your opinions be heard.