Coastal Fisheries’ 2010 Spring-Summer Activities

The end of winter is triggered by the lengthening of daylight associated with the approach of spring and summer days. And with more daylight, everyone looks forward to getting outdoors to participate in the many activities that our wonderful Texas coast has to offer. Fishing turns on, boaters hit their favorite ramps and Coastal Fisheries (CF) Division staff gets into full swing with data collection, hatchery production, habitat protection and permit review. The following are but a few of the highlights that our dedicated and professional staffs have participated in recently and during the summer months. We will provide full length articles on some of the topics in future issues.

Riechers Named CF Division Director

Robin Riechers, twenty-two year veteran of the division was appointed CF Division Director in February. He fills the 18-month vacancy created when Dr. Larry McKinney became the Director of the Harte Research Institute associated with Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). Riechers received his MS degree from Texas A&M University. During his most recent service as chief of the division's Science and Policy Branch, which is involved in every aspect of coastal fisheries conservation and management, Riechers has been active in spotted seatrout, flounder, shrimp, seagrass and Gulf fisheries issues. He has represented the department on the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council since 2000 and he served as the chairman in 2006 and 2007. He has strong leadership skills and an ability to work well with the broad range of marine stakeholders.

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Preparation

Mike Ray, CF Deputy Division Director, is the TPWD intra-agency coordinator in regards to the disaster. Mr. Ray's responsibilities include the coordination of all divisions and branches within the agency in terms of personnel, equipment and information in preparation should the oil approach and affect Texas. Don Pitts, Director of Environmental Assessment, Response, and Restoration Programs, is TPWD's primary point of contact with Texas' natural trustee agencies such as General Land Office and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the other Gulf states' coordinators, and the federal natural trustee agencies, such as NOAA and the USFWS. Texas is keeping well informed and taking all preparation actions should there be oil on our shores. Check the TPWD web page for updates on our preparation and links to other sites dealing with the oil spill.

High Use Boat Ramp Surveys Have Begun

As we have for the past thirty-five years, Coastal Fisheries biologists and technicians are beginning to interview more and more boaters as summer fishing activity picks up. Between mid-May and mid-November over 726 weekday and weekend surveys are conducted at boats ramps in all bay systems on the Texas coast. Anglers are interviewed to provide data on the fisheries resources so that our agency can fulfill its mission of conserving and managing the fishery resources for enjoyment by present and future generations. The surveys are conducted quickly and professionally to gather as much information as possible with the least disruption to the end-of-trip activities. These data, along with our own fishery-independent data, have been successfully used to enhance and maintain the great fishing opportunities we have coastwide. Coastal Fisheries staff can be recognized by their TPWD uniform shirt or cap, and their clipboard. They will ask you a brief set of questions and then ask to count and measure your fish. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Please help us continue managing your fisheries.

Summer Interns at Coastal Fisheries Field Offices

The proverbial question: "Who hires the person with no experience?" The answer, at least for numerous marine biology major college students, is the Coastal Conservation Association of Texas. Through an innovative program started over nine years ago with the Corpus Christi Chapter, the CCA Texas has funded eight college students this summer. The students have been assigned to six bay ecosystem management teams and to two marine fish hatcheries. Additionally, the Mr. Big Trout Fishing Tournament in the Upper Laguna Madre has funded an intern and one intern is funded through the TPWD intern program. Interns hail from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, TAMU-Galveston and Trinity University. Interns join their teams for about three months in the summer and they participate in all activities of regular employees. Activities include such things as hatchery operations, field sampling using a variety of gears: gill nets, trawls, and bag seines, conducting recreational harvest surveys, helping to maintain gear and equipment, and conducting education and outreach programs. The addition of interns for the staff during the busy summer months is extremely helpful and the experiences gained by the students are priceless. The investments made by the CCA, Mr. Big and TPWD in the intern program are immeasurably valuable and long lasting. Seven of the previous nine interns in the upper Laguna Madre are currently employed in some sort of fisheries management or enhancement, research, or habitat protection/restoration activities. It is a win-win-win for everyone. Expect to see an article or two written by some of our interns in future issues.