The Department of Fish and Game has agreed to stop stocking fish in many of the state's lakes and rivers where native species could be harmed.
Two environmental groups that successfully sued the DFG for its long-standing practice announced the agreement Thursday. The interim agreement is intended to protect sensitive fish and frogs while the DFG prepares a broader, more thorough plan for overhauling its fish-stocking programs.
The agreement, which could have widespread implications for California anglers, is designed to protect 16 native fish species and nine native frogs. They include the California golden trout, which inhabit the Kern River drainage, the Central California steelhead, found in coastal and inland river systems statewide, and the mountain yellow-legged frog, which inhabit the Sierra Nevada.
Although the DFG has stocked trout and salmon for more than 100 years to support recreational fishing, studies have found that hatchery-raised fish compete with native species for food and habitat and in some cases prey on them.
"Interim measures limiting stocking are needed to help save California's native fish and frogs from extinction," said Noah Greenwald of the Center for Biological Diversity. "Fish and Game will still be able to stock hatchery fish, but mainly in places where they won't harm native species."
Greenwald's group and the Pacific River Council sued the state last year to reform its hatchery operations. The DFG was supposed to complete an environmental impact report by the end of 2008, but asked for an extension until January 2010.
In the meantime, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette ordered the two parties to reach an interim agreement. Failure to do so could have resulted in a shutdown of all fish stocking throughout the state.
"DFG fought hard in the negotiations to save its fish-stocking programs," DFG director Donald Koch said. "We are pleased that the order allows us to continue stocking in a number of areas where the communities depend on fishing."
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