Reservoir Ranching of Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula

Abstract

Reservoir ranching is an extensive aquaculture practice which stocks young fish that feed on naturally available foods, and are harvested after a period of time. Paddlefish, Polyodon spathulaare filter feeders on zooplankton and are valued for their boneless meat and roe that can be processed into caviar. The goal of this study was to report the perceptions that Kentuckians have of paddlefish reservoir ranching in public waters. Our results show that over 80% of surveyed respondents (N = 478) were in favor of this practice. However, almost 20% of respondents indicated that reservoir ranching of paddlefish might be deleterious for sport fishing in the reservoirs selected for this aquaculture method. A similar proportion of the surveyed sample was against instituting reservoir ranching of paddlefish in public waters. Other results showed that respondent characteristics, such as fishing license ownership and education level, systematically affected their opinion of reservoir ranching. Individuals without fishing licenses and without 4-year college degrees (or higher education), were significantly (P < 10%) more willing to institute reservoir ranching and less inclined to feel that reservoir ranching will harm sport fishing in public bodies of water.

Conclusions of this study were that while the majority of respondents were in favor of reservoir ranching of paddlefish in public waters, some were concerned with potential effects of this enterprise on sport fishing. Since scientific studies in this area had been sparse, this paper suggests that research on the possible impacts of paddlefish ranching on sport fishing in public waters should be imperative prior to instituting this new aquaculture industry.

Key Words:

• Paddlefish
• reservoir ranching
• public opinion survey
• public waters
• Polyodon spathula