Status
Paddlefish were at one time very abundant in most central U.S. river systems, but populations have declined greatly due to overharvesting, sedimentation, and river modification. One of the major reasons for declining paddlefish numbers are the dams constructed on many major U.S. river systems. Paddlefish avoid fish ladders because of the metal rebar used in construction, which disrupts their electro-magnetic sense organs. The dams block paddlefish migration routes that are very important to the fish for spawning.
One other reason for the decreased numbers of paddlefish is overfishing. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissioners are reintroducing the species to historical habitats in the Ohio and Allegheny rivers in an effort to establish a secure breeding population once again. Reintroduction efforts may take many years, since paddlefish mature slowly, lengthening the time required to establish a breeding population. Oklahoma has drastically reduced sportfish harvest of paddlefish to one per person per day to help sustain populations. Paddlefish are a protected species in Wisconsin, where they occur in the Wisconsin River south of the Prairie du Sac hydroelectric dam and in the lower Saint Croix River in Pierce County.
Read more about this topic: Paddlefish
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