Page 34 - March/April 2020 - Outdoor Oklahoma
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Repopulation Efforts Targeting Waters They Once Wandered
By Kelly Adams, Information Specialist and Jason Schooley, Senior Fisheries Biologist
MArY dAviS/uSFWS Paddlefish Propagation
When the young paddlefish reach about 12 inches, they are ready to be stocked in Oklahoma waters. Larger fish will have a greater chance
of survival to breeding age, which ultimately defines the success of these restoration efforts.
Paddlefish of the Mississippi River Basin for
Inhabiting the rivers and bayous
about 65 million years since the late
Cretaceous Period, paddlefish are
Propagation among the oldest living species on
the North American continent.
Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) were
once abundant throughout their range,
but dam construction has interrupted
their migratory breeding and feed-
Repopulation Efforts Targeting ing patterns, resulting in population
declines. These habitat losses, paired
Waters They Once Wandered with commercial and recreational
overharvest, have caused concern for
the future of the species.
While some Oklahoma reservoirs and
By Kelly Adams, Information Specialist and tributaries host robust paddlefish pop-
Jason Schooley, Senior Fisheries Biologist ulations, managing these populations
to be self-sustaining has been a key
32 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA
