Skipjack Shad - Management

Management

Human impacts on Skipjack Shad populations seem to be minimal in the southern parts of their distribution. Dams have limited the natural distribution of the species. Skipjacks are no longer found in high numbers in the northern reaches of their distribution because of their inability to migrate over large impoundments. Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources webpage tells us that Further research into the species' life history and ecological requirements is needed. It is known that lock and dam structures hinder migration of skipjack shads during the early spring. If the skipjack shad is to be reestablished in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where they are nearly extirpated, fish passage features such as ladders or lifts will be required on Mississippi River lock and dams (Minnesota DNR). In Minnesota, the construction of a fish passage facility is being considered at U.S. Lock and Dam 3 near Redwing and could help skipjack shad migration in the Mississippi River drainage. The Minnesota DNR Division of Ecological Services received a State Wildlife Grant to conduct surveys for rare fish species in the Mississippi River from the Twin Cities to the Iowa border. These surveys were conducted from 2006-2008, and while the skipjack shad was a targeted species, none were found (Minnesota DNR). In addition to the extirpation of the Skipjack shad from Minnesota and Wisconsin, the ebony shell (Fusconaia ebena ) and elephant ear (Elliptio crassidens), both state endangered mussels for which the skipjack is the sole host during their larval stages, are being threatened to be extirpated as well (Minnesota DNR) .

In order to keep their distribution from shrinking further, humans need to decrease the number of dams that are constructed, or construct dams that Skipjack shads are able to migrate through. In addition to hindering their migration, dams reduce flow. Skipjacks prefer areas with fast flowing water (Whitehead). In addition, it is necessary to keep turbidity and siltation levels down, as this species will only live in waters that are clear to moderately turbid (Page and Burr 1991). Sampling of Skipjack shad has been performed through the use of gillnetting and electro fishing (McLean et al.). These methods are best utilized beneath impoundments over sand or gravel substrates around spawning time each spring, where they are most abundant (Neebling et al.). Sampling should be done across the entire native range to document its abundance in different locations and human induced changes. For now, Skipjack shad have a stable abundance in the southern part of its distribution, and need more management plans put into place in the northernmost reaches of its distribution.