INVESTIGATIONS IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: PHASE II

• Sponsoring Institution: Other Cooperating Institutions
• Project Status: NEW
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1017111
• Project No.: MISZ-081690
• Project Start Date: Aug 3, 2018
• Project End Date: Apr 30, 2023

Project Director
Neal, J., WE.

Recipient Organization
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762

Performing Department
Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries

Non Technical Summary
Recreational fishing is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in the United States, with more than 35.8 million people at least 16 years of age participating in 2016. Anglers spent an estimated $46.1 billion on trips, eqipment, licenses, and other fishing-related items, averaging almost $1,300 per angler. Further, much of this activity occurs on private waters, which are abundant (4.5 million ponds in the U.S.) and are privately managed. Despite the importance of fishing to the economy and well-being of society, many aquatic systems and the fisheries are poorly understood and experiencing management issues including overfishing, competing uses, contamination, invasive species, and the impacts of climate change. This CRIS project seeks to assist management agencies and private landowners with understanding these issues and devising solutions. Four general subprojects are proposed that allow the PI to respond to and address research and outreach needs in fisheries management for the state of Mississippi and on a national and international level as necessary.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
135	0819	1070	100%

Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife;

Subject Of Investigation
0819 - Natural fisheries, other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

fisheries

management

outreach

Goals / Objectives
1. To address specific management issues in small impoundments and improve management recommendations provided to landowners and pond managers.2. To assist the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in the study of identified fisheries questions and to provide recommendations for improved management.3. To serve the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to help identify, research, and solve management issues in tropical fisheries.4. To provide assistance to any state, federal, or foreign agency with identified aquatic management needs.

Project Methods
1. To address specific management issues in small impoundments and improve management recommendations provided to landowners and pond managers.The approach for this objective will be outreach-based, although directed study will be used when research needs are identified. Outreach will consist of workshops and seminars, in-service training of agents, production of media outputs, and a new professional textbook on recruitment, retention, and reactivation of anglers.2. To assist the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in the study of identified fisheries questions and to provide recommendations for improved management.I am completing an ongoing research project (methods available) and developing new potential projects. A research summit with MDWFP was held in December 2017 to identify specific research needs, and detailed proposals were developed at that time. Funding for new research was put on hold in 2018, but it is anticipated that research addressing fisheries management and angler participation at Mississippi State Lakes and Community Fishing Assistance Program lakes will be funded in 2019. The proposed CRIS project will be amended at that time.3. To serve the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to help identify, research, and solve management issues in tropical fisheries.Studies are currently being desinged. One proposed study is described below:Hurricane Maria presents an unprecedented and fleeting opportunity to evaluate how catastrophic flooding affects lentic systems. We propose to immediately study this large-scale disturbance event of the freshwater reservoirs in Puerto Rico. Research will focus on disturbance ecology, with the specific research question: "What is the immediate impact on and short-term resiliency of reservoir fish communities following a catastrophic flood?"Specific objectives for study:1) Compare fish population and community structure from pre- and post-catastrophic flood event,2) Assess changes to reservoir habitats and water quality following disturbance event, and3) Document community resiliency post-disturbance.This approach will enable us to determine how hurricanes and associated flooding affect reservoir fish communities, identify potential mechanisms influencing community responses, and provide initial assessment of how reservoir species respond to disturbance.For each objective, we will repeat methodologies from previous pre-hurricane research to compare pre- and post-hurricane characteristics. Abbreviated methods for each objective follow:Obj. 1: Compare fish population and community structure from pre- and post-catastrophic flood eventPrevious studies have characterized reservoir fish communities in Puerto Rico for several decades using standardized boom-mounted electrofishing. These procedures will be repeated post-disturbance to provide comparable community data within 6-months post-hurricane. Data will be compared from before and after to evaluate changes in 1) community composition, 2) species size distributions, and 3) relative abundance.Obj. 2: Assess changes to reservoir habitats and water quality following disturbance eventNeal et al. (2014) evaluated four Puerto Rico reservoirs for spatial and temporal dynamics in water quality parameters, including surface mapping and depth profiles of in situ parameters (dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, temperature, turbidity, and oxidation reduction potential) and oxycline, and surface waters were sampled in the lab for select nutrients (nitrate-N, ammonia-N, and soluble reactive phosphate). These procedures will be repeated in June 2018 on Lucchetti, Cerrillos, Guajataca, and Dos Bocas Reservoirs for comparison of pre- and post-hurricane summer conditions.Obj. 3: Document community resiliency post-disturbanceFish sampling procedures outlined in Objective 1 will be repeated in September 2018, 2019, and 2020 to provide comparable community data at 1-year intervals post-hurricane. These data will be compared to data from before and within 6-months after the hurricane to evaluate community resiliency in terms of 1) community composition, 2) species size distributions, and 3) relative abundance.The proposed research above and other postential studies are currently being developed. The CRIS project will be amended when additional information becomes available.4. To provide assistance to any state, federal, or foreign agency with identified aquatic management needs.The PI will remain open to additional opportunities as they become available, and will continue to pursue research funding for work in on the Mekong River in Vietnam, freshwater systems in the Dominican Republic, or other systems as identified. Dr. Neal and others from MSU will travel in June 2018 to Cambodia to assist in the development of Community Fisheries along the Sre Ambel River, which may develop into a larger role in that country. This CRIS proposal will be updated at that time.

Progress 10/01/21 to 09/30/22

Outputs
Target Audience:1. Mississippi Department od Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks 2. Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources 3. MSU Extension 4. Private pond owners 5. Puerto Rico tarpon anglers and charter industry 6. Cambodia subsistence fishers, the Wildlife Conservation Society, USAID, and the US Forest Service, Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Within Mississippi, the project trained Extension personnel in water qulaity management, improving agent expertise and ability to address landowner needs. In the past calendar year, this project handled more than 270 Extension contact events with clients and 586 individual clients, and provided information directly to Extension agents during 141 agent contacts. The project conducted two in-service trainings, three international workshops, and 17 workshops, lectures, or events overall. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project is creating a new factsheet series on aquatic plants that will include a web-based delivery system and a waterproof field book. In addition, a best practices poster was developed and distributed to Puerto Rico access areas and tackle shops to improved tarpon catch-and-release efforts. Peer-reviewed publications, popular articles, and a new podcast series are also used. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research projects are continuing or wrapping up during the next fiscal year. Two new proposals have been funded and a third appears likely to be funded in the next 6 months. The project will complete the remaining aquatic plant management resources and launch the website. The podcast will continue to develop with a target of 12 new episodes in 2023.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This project conducted directed outreach and produced targeted media aimed to improve landowner understanding and capacity for management, produced research that improves management capacity of government management entities, and improved livelihoods of artisanal fishers abroad. Major activities trained Mississippi pond owners and Extension personnel, distributed information via popular and scientific media outlets, created a citizen-science program in Cambodia, and impacted an estimated 710,452 acres of surface water globally. Products included 3 peer-reviewed journal articles, 29 new factsheets, a new podcast, website, Facebook page, and progress on two text books. Many addtional products are under development and will become available during the current project.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Coffill-Rivera, M. E., J. W. Neal, and P. J. Allen. 2022. Effects of temperature on growth of juvenile Speckled Peacock Bass Cichla temensis. North American Journal of Aquaculture 84:486-492.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Miles, T. P., and J. W. Neal. 2022. Age and growth comparison of white bass among three southeastern U.S. river-reservoir systems. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 9:25-29.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Haley, B. M., and J. W. Neal. 2021. Evaluation of supplemental crappie stocking in small southern reservoirs. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 41:1514-1521.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: 2022 Extension Outdoors Column. Hot Temperatures Affect Pond Fish
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: 2022 Extension Outdoors Column. Pond Plants not Always Weeds
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J.W., D. Riecke, and G. Turnage. 2022. Filamentous algae: including colonial forms. MSU Cooperative Extension Service Publication 3735-1.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J.W., D. Riecke, and G. Turnage. 2022. Macroalgae: Chara and Nitella. MSU Cooperative Extension Service Publication 3735-2.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J.W., D. Riecke, and G. Turnage. 2022. Planktonic algae. MSU Cooperative Extension Service Publication 3735-3.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J. W. 2022. Maximizing survival of angled fish following release. Pond Boss 31(2):22-23.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J. W. 2022. Is it too hot for bass? Pond Boss 31(1):22-23.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J. W. 2022. A weed is just a plant out of place. Pond Boss 30(6):22-23.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J. W. 2022. A crazy idea that I just cannot dismiss. Pond Boss 30(5):22-23.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Neal, J. W. 2022. Natural hybridization in sunfish. Pond Boss 30(4):22-23.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Neal, J. W. 2021. Starting over: how to begin anew. Pond Boss 30(3):22-23.

Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience:Seven primary target audiences were reached during the past year: 1) landowners, 2) Extension agents, 3) management biologists, 4) scientists, 5) charter fishing industry, 6) Cambodian artisanal fishers, and 7) general public clientele. In Mississippi, I reached 240 individual landowners during 129 contact events, and assisted Extension professionals 113 times. Globally, an estimated 335,168 surface acres of water were directly impacted in the past year. Changes/Problems:COVID-19 was the biggest limiting factor to the project. In response, more activities were conducted virtually than in past years. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Within Mississippi, the project trained Extension personnel in water quality management, improving agent expertise. Agent training and direct outreach to the public results in a public that is more knowledgeable in pond management. The project leader recorded 128 contact events in FY 2021, directly responding to 209 landowner requests for information, and reached thousands more via popular publications. Many contacts involve Extension personnel, with 111 total agent contact events further improving agent expertise and impact. The project leader provided 3 in-service trainings for Extension agents on water quality management in ponds and lakes and 4 workshops for the public on basic pond management. Further, a training video was produced for artisanal fishers in Cambodia to teach data collection for monitoring fish harvest. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Four peer-reviewed publications were published in FY2021 and seven popular articles were published. In addition, six presentations were delivered at professional conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research projects are continuing or wrapping up during the next fiscal year. Two new proposals are in preparation to continue research lines. A grant was received in FY2021 to develop aquatic plant management resources. A handbook, website, and 43 new factsheets under development in FY2022. Additional workshops are planned, and a new podcast series is being designed.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This project conducted directed outreach and produce targeted media aimed to improve landowner understanding and capacity for management and produced research that improves management capacity of government management entities. Major activities trained Mississippi pond owners and Extension personnel, distributed information via popular and scientific media outlets, and impacted an estimated 325,137 acres of surface waters in the 2021 fiscal year. Activities included the state of Mississippi, the United States, Puerto Rico, and Cambodia. Products included four peer-reviewed journal articles and seven popular articles; progress on a new textbook and two new field guides, and a software package to manage artisanal fisheries. Each of these products improves capacity to manage fisheries. More broadly, results from directed research were publish in peer-review journals so that other scientists and managers can use the findings. Directed research was conducted on impacts of invasive species, conservation aquaculture, and catch-and-release effects of the tarpon charter industry. In Cambodia, the project helped develop small-scale aquaculture, a citizen science data collection program with artisanal fishers, and outreach videos for data collect and fish preservation.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Haley, B. M., Neal, J. W. (2021). Evaluation of supplemental crappie stocking in small southern reservoirs. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 41(5), 1514-1521.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Vilizzi, L., Copp, G. H., Hill, J. E., Adamovich, B., Aislabie, L., Akin, D., Al-Faisal, A. J., Almeida, D., Amal Azmai, M. N., Bakiu, R., Bellati, A., Bernier, R., Bies, J. M., Bilge, G., Branco, P., Bui, T. D., Canning-Clode, J., Cardoso, H. A., Castellanos-Galindo, R. G. A., Castro, N., Chaichana, R., Chainho, P., Chan, J., Cunico, A. M., Curd, A., Dangchana, P., Dashinov, D., Davison, P. I., de Camargo, M. P., Dodd, J. A., Durland Donahou, A. L., Edsman, L., Guler Ekmekci, F., Elphinstone-Davis, J., Eros, T., Evangelista, C., Fenwick, G., Ferincz, A., Ferreira, T., Feunteun, E., Filiz, H., Forneck, S. C., Gajduchenko, H. S., Gama Monteiro, J., Gestoso, I., Giannetto, D., Gilles, Jr, A. S., Gizzi, F., Glamuzina, B., Glamuzina, L., Goldsmit, J., Gollasch, S., Goulletquer, P., Grabowska, J., Harmer, R., Haubrock, P. J., He, D., Hean, J. W., Herczeg, G., Howland, K. L., Ilhan, A., Interesova, E., Jakubcinova, K., Jelmert, A., Johnson, S. I., Kakareko, T., Kanongdate, K., Killi, N., Kim, J.-E., Gulsun Kirankaya, S., K?azovick�, D., Kopeck�, O., Kostov, V., Koutsikos, N., Kozic, S., Kuljanishvili, T., Kumar, B., Kumar, L., Kurita, Y., Kurtul, I., Lazzaro, L., Lee, L., Lehtiniemi, M., Leonardi, G., Leuven, R. S.E.W., Li, S., Lipinskaya, T., Liu, F., Lloyd, L., Lorenzoni, M., Luna, S. A., Lyons, T. J., Magellan, K., Malmstrom, M., Marchini, A., Marr, S. M., Masson, G., Masson, L., McKenzie, C. H., Memedemin, D., Mendoza, R., Minchin, D., Miossec, L., Moghaddas, S. D., Moshobane, M. C., Mumladze, L., Naddafi, R., Najafi-Majd, E., Nastase, A., Navodaru, I., Neal, J. W., Nienhuis, S., Nimtim, M., Nolan, E. T., Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A., Ojaveer, H., Olenin, S., Olsson, K., Onikura, N., O'Shaughnessy, K., Paganelli, D., Parretti, P., Patoka, J., Pavia Jr, R. T. B., Pellitteri-Rosa, D., Pelletier-Rousseau, M., Peralta, E. M., Perdikaris, C., Pietraszewski, D., Piria, M., Pitois, S., Pompei, L., Poulet, N., Preda, C., Puntila-Dodd, R., Qashqaei, A. T., Radocaj, T., Rahmani, H., Raj, S., Reeves, D., Ristovska, M., Rizevsky, V., Robertson, D. R., Robertson, P., Ruykys, L., Saba, A. O., Santos, J. M., Sari, H. M., Segurado, P., Semenchenko, V., Senanan, W., Simard, N., Simonovic, P., Skora, M. E., Svolikova, K. S., Smeti, E., Smidova, T., Spelic, I., Srebaliene, G., Stasolla, G., Stebbing, P., Stevove, B., Suresh, V. R., Szajbert, B., T. Ta, K. A., Tarkan, A. S., Tempesti, J., Therriault, T. W., Tidbury, H. J., Top-Karakus, N., Tricarico, E., Troca, D. F. A., Tsiamis, K., Tuckett, Q. M., Tutman, P., Uyan, U., Uzunova, E., Vardakas, L., Velle, G., Verreycken, H., Vintsek, L., Wei, H., Weiperth, A., Weyl, O. L. F., Winter, E. R., Wlodarczyk, R., Wood, L. E., Yang, R., Yapici, S., Yeo, S. S. B., Yogurtcuoglu, B., Yunnie, A. L. E., Zhu, Y., Zieba, G., Zitnanova, K., Clarke, S. (2021). A global-scale screening of non-native aquatic organisms to identify potentially invasive species under current and future climate conditions. Science and the Total Environment, 788(147868).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Neal, J. W., Claussen, J. E., Douglas, M. R., Spencer, E. T., Tracy, E., Blasius, H., Mackey, T., Hall, C. J., Kusnierz, P. C., Douglas, M. E., Bonar, S. (2021). Best practices for communicating climate science for fisheries professionals. Fisheres/American Fisheries Society, 46(9), 445-448.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Spurgeon, J. M. Rhodes, J. W. Neal, and K. Evans. 2020. Aquatic habitat changes along the Arkansas River, Arkansas USA. River Research and Applications. 2020:1-13.

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:1. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 2. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks 3. US Forest Service 4. MSU Extension 5. Private pond owners 6. Cambodian villagers 7. American Fisheries Society 8. Wildlife Conservation Society Changes/Problems:Much of the project has been coverted to virtual due to the pandemic. Also continuing to have issues with contracting from Puerto Rico. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. Conducted plenary session at internation American Fisheries Society meeting on effective communication of climate science. 2. Provided online training for pond management and conducted two Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (CLfT) workshops. 3. Developing trainings for fishers in Cambodian villages. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Published 6 Pond Boss Magazine articles and 1 Extension Outdoors article. handles 145 contact events with 203 individual and 46 agent contacts. Impacted an estimated 142,000 surface acres of water. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Continue Extension outreach via direct contacts, workshops, and media releases. 2. Continue ongoing research in Puerto Rico and Cambodia. 3. Seek new research opportunities in Mississippi and surrounding states. 4. Complete Angler R3 textbook in 2021. 5. Publish 3 peer-revewed articles.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Conducted 3 workshops, published 1 Extension Ooutdoors column, and 6 Pond Boss Magazine articles regarding small impoundment management. 2. Working on two manuscripts to release results from MDFWP research program for publication in 2021. Also conducting age&growth studies on white bass and Alabama bass that will benefit management. 3. Intiating tarpon, speckled peacock bass, and invasive cichlid research in Puerto Rico. 4. Completed research on habitat change in the Arkansas River and initiating citizen science research in Cambodia.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2021 Citation: Spurgeon, J. M. Rhodes, J. W. Neal, and K. Evans. (In press). Aquatic habitat changes along the Arkansas River, Arkansas USA. River Research and Applications.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Neal, J. W., Z. S. Moran, and B. M. Haley. 2020. Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico: effects on reservoir habitat, community structure, and resilience. Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 7:123-133.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Prchalov�, M., V. D?d, and J. W. Neal. 2020. Length-weight relationships and standard weight equations of reservoir species in Puerto Rico. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 36:386-389.

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:1. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks 2. Arkansas Department of Game and Inland Fisheries 3. MSU Extension 4. Private Pond Owners 5. Cambodian villagers 6. Wildlife Conservation Society Changes/Problems:Continuing to attempt resolution of contracting issues with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. The US Fish and Wildlife Service approved a 4 year research project via PR DNER in fall 2016, yet the contract has yet to be issued. We are working to resolve this issue. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?15 workshops completed in reporting period on topics including: Competency training for Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (Pond management) Two Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (CLfT) workshops Nine joint MDWFP-Extension pond management workshops One continuing education training for Extension personnel One Natural Resources Enterprises workshop Two Timber and Wildlife Field Day presentations How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Published 6 Pond Boss articles and 2 Extension Outdoors articles. Handled 128 contact events with 187 individuals and 47 Extesnion agents. Impacted 144,437.5 acres of surface water. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue Extension outreach via direct contacts, workshops, and media releases. Initiate newly funded research and outreach in Puerto Rico and Cambodia. Publish field guide to fishes of Puerto Rico. Seek new research opportunities in Mississippi and surrounding states. Publish new textbook on angler recruitment, retention, and reactivation. Publish 3 peer-review journal articles.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Conducted 15 workshops, publish 2 Extension Outdoors Columns, and 6 Pond Boss Magazine articles regarding Mall Impoundment Management. 2. Completed research study and delivered final report and thesis to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. 3. Funded new 2 year tarpon research project in Puerto Rico. 4. Provided research assistance to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and on-site consulting outreach in Cambodia.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Prchalov�, M., V. D?d, and J. W. Neal. (In press). Length-weight relationships and standard weight equations of reservoir species in Puerto Rico. Journal of Applied Ichthyology.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Vilizzi, L., J. W. Neal, and 33 others. 2019. A global review and meta-analysis of applications of the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 29:529-568.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Neal, J. W., Z. S. Moran, and B. M. Haley. (In press). Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico: effects on reservoir habitat, community structure, and resilience. Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Haley, B. M. 2019. Development of Quality Crappie Fishing Opportunities in Mississippi State Lakes. Master's thesis, Mississippi State University.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Bies, J. M. 2019. Sampling techniques for research and management of cichlid species in lentic systems. Master's thesis, Mississippi State University.

Progress 08/03/18 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:1. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks 2. Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources 3. MSU Extension 4. Private pond owners Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Of the twelve Fisheries workshops, one was a two-day workshop on Pond Management for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, two were five-day Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow programs for mixed agency employees, one trained Extension agents with agriculture and natural resources responsibilities on managing pond water chemistry, and the remainder were for the general public. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Workshops, peer-reviewed publications, national magazine columns (serial column "Empirically Speaking" in Pond Boss Magazine), and news releases (via Extension Outdoors weekly column). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Continue with direct contact events and workshops. 2. Complete current MDWFP project and discuss future research potential. 3. Finalize funding contract and initiate research on invasive cichlids and hatchery techniques for Cichla temensis in Pueto Rico. 4. Discuss follow-up options with USFS for Cambodia and seek other research and outreach oppotunities.Initiate project with AGFC evaluating habitat changes on the Arkansas River.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. To date, I have had 45 contact events with pond owners, organized and/or conducted 12 workshops, and directly influenced management on a minimum of 1,582 acres of private waters. I published research on the effects of effort or catchability or largemouth bassand on the influence of destratification on pond productivity. 2. The project titled: "Development of Quality Crappie Fishing Opportunities in Mississippi State Lakes" is nearing completion. This is a three-year project designed to improve crappie management in small state managed lakes. A primary goal of the project was to evaluate the efficacy of supplemental stocking of hatchery reared White and Magnolia Crappie in terms of contribution to the existing population. Additional goals of the project included assessment of lake characteristics contributing to quality crappie populations in these lakes, as well as an evaluation of two different chemical markers for long-term marking of White and Magnolia Crappie. The study took place in 17 small lakes throughout Mississippi, ranging in size from 28 to 357 hectares. A total of 6,932 fish were sampled via trap netting and electrofishing during the study. Of these fish, 2,274 were crappie. Crappie have been processed and aged, and analyses are currently ongoing. Approximately 55,000 White and Magnolia Crappie were marked at the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery and stocked into five state lakes. Activities by fiscal year (FY) are outlined below.A Master's thesis on the results is expected to be submitted by the end of January 2019. 3. I am still waiting on a contract from PR DNER to continue the primary research thrust. Additional research was funded by FEMA, USFWS, and USGS to study the effects of Hurricane Maria. We repeated published methodologies to compare pre- and post-hurricane characteristics of reservoir water quality and fish communities. Ammonia and specific conductance increased post-hurricane, and we observed notable changes in physical habitat, including significant loss of upper lake volume and surface area and a marked increase in woody structure. Water Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes completely disappeared in Dos Bocas and Loiza Reservoir where it has been historically abundant and problematic. Most reservoirs assessed during this project were similar in fish community between pre- and post-hurricane samples, with the exception of Loiza Reservoir. The Loiza Reservoir fishery had largely collapsed post-hurricane, with the primary sport fish species, Butterfly Peacock Bass Cichla ocellaris, disappearing from the reservoir. Other species targeted by anglers also decreased in abundance and maximum size, while invasive species were less affected. The authors hypothesize that opening the radial gates, which are unique to Loiza Reservoir, combined with extreme high in-reservoir flow rates, involuntarily flushed fish from the system or resulted in voluntary emigration. The hydraulic residence time during the hurricane averaged about 1 h, suggesting the reservoir changed water nearly 24 times in a 24-h period. This research concluded that extreme wind and flood events can influence reservoir fisheries, habitat, and water quality, and we suggest that the design and operation of water release structures influenced the response of reservoir fish during Hurricane Maria. 4. The USFS requested fisheries expertise and assistance with the development of a community fishery in Cambodia. Developing countries like Cambodia often suffer from limited human and financial resources for data collection and law enforcement in small-scale fisheries. These fisheries can benefit from co-management arrangements (i.e., community fisheries) between government management agencies and local fishers, who can provide social and human capital critical for effective management of resources and enforcement of fishing regulations, and provide knowledge on the ecology and relative abundance of fish and fisheries. However, limited preliminary information on the scope and issues surrounding these fisheries can serve as an impediment to the establishment of effective community fisheries agreements between local communities and government agencies. To address this information gap in a proposed community river fishery in Cambodia, we used a semi-structured interview approach via public meetings with villages within the community fishery jurisdiction. This approach provided data on important fishery characteristics and techniques, potential for aquaculture development, and helped identify challenges to be addressed. These data allowed identification of aquatic species of potential management importance and enabled the development of nine recommendations to aid development of the community fishery. Further, this approach can serve as a model for employing a user-based approach in other isolated fisheries where the infrastructure to collect fishery-independent data is unavailable.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wegener, M. G., H. L. Schramm, Jr., J. W. Neal, and P. D. Gerard. 2018. Effect of fishing effort on catch rate and catchability of largemouth bass in small impoundments. Fisheries Management and Ecology 25:66-76.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Neal, J. W. (In press). Increasing largemouth bass production using destratification: a case study. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2019 Citation: Neal, J. W., P. J. Allen, S. J. Marlay, P. Channa, S. Mahood, S. Sitha, and P. Prantha. (In review). Fishery data collection using a user-based approach along the Sre Ambel River, Cambodia. Submitted to the Cambodian Journal of Natural History.