Vic DiCenzo PhD, Solitude Lake Management, vdicenzo@ solitudelake.com Fisheries management is a challenging and exciting process of planning and taking actions to manipulate fish populations, habitat, and people to achieve specific human objectives. Therefore, fisheries management first requires broad goals that meet stakeholder values. Then, sampling fish populations and habitat provides managers with an understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of fisheries which then drive management strategies. Fisheries data used to inform management actions include relative abundance, size structure, and condition. Quality habitat typically includes native aquatic vegetation, good water quality, and complex structure. This presentation describes how managers can employ fisheries management strategies to improve the quality of their fisheries and provide exceptional recreational opportunities. Further, fisheries management planning at the Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center in Blackstone Virginia on 14 lakes will provide examples of an active fisheries management program.

1. Restoring Balance. Enhancing Beauty.
Improving Fisheries
Management on
Military Lands
By: Vic DiCenzo, PhD
Fisheries Biologist

2. What Is Fisheries Management?
Fisheries management
is a challenging and
exciting process of
planning and taking
actions to manipulate
fish populations,
habitat, and people
to achieve specific
human objectives.
Fish Habitat
Abundance
Growth
Condition
Water quality
Vegetation
Cover
Attitudes
Preferences
Satisfaction
People

3. Sampling and Data Collection
• Effective fisheries
management
improves when
data about the
lake drives
decisions

4. Data
What shapes fish
populations?
• Population
dynamics
• Relative
abundance
• Size structure
• Condition

5. Data – Relative Abundance
• Why not absolute
abundance?
• Catch-per-unit-
effort
• Highly variable
• Trends
• Qualitative
categories

6. Data – Size Structure
• Always have fish
length data
• Length frequency
distributions
• PSD
• Factors affecting
distribution

7. Data – Condition
• Relative weight
• How plump are
fish?
• Compare weight
to a standard for
fish length

8. Fisheries Management - People
• Stakeholders – who
are they?
• Involvement?
• Value choices
• What do we want
to know?
• Why is it important?
• Value in involving the
public in decisions that
affect them
• Unique contributions
that could help inform
decisions
• Support decisions and
facilitate
implementation

9. Fisheries Management - Fish
Effective fisheries
management requires
planning and patience
• Stocking
• Predator-to-Prey
Management - Harvest
• Supplemental Feeding

10. Stocking
• Species selection, rates,
and sizes vary
• Electrofishing survey
provides most accurate
assessment
• Observations from angling
• Cannot blindly stock fish
and expect improvements
to fishery

11. Predator-Prey Management
• Annual assessments allow
you to stay one step ahead
of potential problems
• Innovative strategies for
prevention:
- Stocking female-only
Largemouth Bass
- Diversify predator
population

12. Supplemental Feeding
• Support forage base (also
some sportfish).
• Improved nutrition
increases fish health and
survival.
• Cost-effective – small lakes
• Better conversion to
growth
• Increased catch rates
(great for kids).

13. Fisheries Management - Habitat
Habitat diversity and
coverage most important
• Optimal range
• Vegetation
• Cover
• Water quality

14. Aquatic Vegetation and Algae
• Native versus invasive
• Vegetation types
• Restoration
• Optimal coverage
• Green algae and
cyanobacteria

15. Cover
• Types of cover
• Artificial and natural
• Location/depths
• Sweat equity

16. Water Quality
• Nutrients
• Fertilization
• Oxygen levels
• Alkalinity

17. Common Fisheries Problems
• Aquatic plants and algae
• Cyanobacteria
• Excessive nutrients
• Erosion
• Fish kills
• Undesirable fish
• Poor fishing

18. Adaptive Management
• Clarify goals
• What is the current status?
• Strategies – how do I
achieve goals?
• Assess – did I get there?

19. Benefits of Fisheries Management
• Increase
understanding of your
resources
• Improve recreational
opportunities
• Increase permit sales?
• Public access
• Outreach – youth
fishing events
• Education

20. Restoring Balance. Enhancing Beauty.
Please Share
Your Takeaways
Vic DiCenzo, PhD
vdicenzo@solitudelake.com
Fisheries Biologist