After the discovery of Florida legislation to introduce sturgeon to Florida aquiculture and interviews with some of the people involved, I found that despite the obvious advantages associated with paddlefish there were no takers in the caviar business. The sturgeon caviar is much more profitable and the closed systems are more convenient for protecting the larger financial investments.

I don't think the idea occurred to anyone to push this through as a tropical fish farm product to be released into the wild. It has probably never been done in the entire history of tropical fish farming in Florida. Despite the fact that the Chinese are producing over a million of these American fish every year, the USA has not been able to come out of the stone age. The Florida tropical fish farmers have suffered misguided blame and heavy regulation for illegal wild releases in the past. They are often considered ignorant farmers when in fact they are usually very well educated in the arts of ichthyology and business. I personally know several with BS degrees in business and a few doctors. Most of the fish raised on a tropical fish farm are subject to disease, birds, raccoons, otters, and predatory fish. The fish are lucky to survive the farm life and have no chance in the wild. The mosquitofish is a major enemy of the farm fish. Any farmer will tell you that they do everything they can to get rid of it. Even after poisoning the pond, and with everything gone, the little suckers seem to survive. It only takes one fish and a bird could drop one fish.

The paddlefish eyed eggs are almost identical to Pleco ball eggs accept they have a clear membrane. I would suggest that the Florida fish farmers are very familiar with this egg. A treatment of Congo Red or soaking with Humic Acids within a small tank and a constant flow of 72 degree well water, would work great. Cold alkaline water that turns to ammonia at the drop of a hat. Instead of the wire cage then a small Terra Cotta Flower Pot would contain them and allow them to bounce around without getting flushed out of the system. The Hypostomus plecostomus that is often referred to as the Common Pleco, are traditionally produced in Florida by the millions. Ponds can be primed with Linseed blocks, partly covered, and with running well water. The feeder farms might come up with something a little different.

I do know that the last time a fish was intentionally introduced into the wild was the butterfly peacock bass 1984 by Paul Shafland and that was a fluke. I spoke with Paul and he said it would take an act of congress to do it now days.

Behold an act of congress to encourage paddlefish aquaculture in Florida Florida Statute 379.2524. Paddlefish are commonly lumped into the same category as the sturgeon because of the genetics, desired roe, the prehistoric origins of both fish, and the general location of habitat. In fact 2 acts of congress including the latest funding for aquaculture by the federal government. Bastard paddlefish produced with sturgeon sperm might legally be considered under this category. On top of all this is the massive rebuild of the Florida everglades that entails more than just buying a bunch of land and flooding it out. Another aspect that could be recognized is the Public Law 109–294 that specifies the biological characteristics of a site (tribal land or private land) with the goal of returning the majority of natural functions to the lost or degraded native habitat, $75,000,000 per year. ‘‘Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act 2006’’ Feeding the alligators! Check out S.1214 - National Fish Habitat Conservation Act. I think this is a bad idea to have a federal level board to dictate to the states. All the more reason to establish this fish into Florida before the feds get their hands on it and destroy any potential freedom Florida has now.

The US Fish and Wildlife service people have the responsibility to act on the comprehensive conservation of our ecosystems. The original 1934 legislation that started it all was based on the idea that commercial interest and conservation interest could come together to deal with water management projects. This is the original purpose for the commission, and what it should be all about today, 76 years later. History Traditionally, federally-mandated levees and the new construction of Dams in the USA have NOT been the responsibility of the Fish and Game department. The Fish and Game has focused instead on law enforcement as its primary function. This is about to change. You can only make so many laws. When traditional fishermen and hunters decide that it is no longer worth it and the federal government wants to control all of the commerce, then it will become quite evident that the Fish and Game department needs to either TAKE or be given more responsibility in the matter. This might be the most redeeming aspect of the Everglades overhaul.

Maybe I do have a chance to accomplish something for this wonderful state and the fish farmers that I so respect. I will encourage everyone to participate and I have been encouraged myself by the people that I have spoken with already. It is physically impossible for Florida to catch up with the Chinese since they have the entire caviar market and 20 million of our paddlefish. We can at least make a showing and keep some small part of our own market.

I do expect to learn some things from this exercise. This effort is for the sole benefit of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and anyone that wants to capitalize on the commission's decisions. I will be happy to ram rod for $150k per yr and a $10M budget to get things off the ground. I will also offer 10 years of FREE consulting service. I would also like a $2M bonus if half the fish get eaten and the other half spawn. Actually I would be happy with the bait concession. At 60 years old I have nothing to loose and I can fight for something I believe in. Never pick a fight with an old man anyway.

Loren E Willis II

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