Sometimes the God given need to protect our environment goes beyond our politically expedient need to institute rules and regulations. I will have this web site going for as long as I can. If the powers of the Commission decide to incorporate this fish into Florida then things will change quickly for the better. If they decide to put things off till the next political situation then we will just have to put things off for a few years. I expect to see an over whelming need as the Everglades is expanded as planned. The solutions that this project represents are the only solutions to problems that have never been addressed or resolved and cannot be regulated with restrictive laws. The animals will not obey the law but people should, no matter how wrong it is. This is what separates us from the animals, and in human life, God has no problem with that. "To know my will, know my son."

With all the state managed, university managed, federal managed, programs being implemented to save the ecology of Florida everglades, it is an awesome challenge to figure out who's in charge. I have ran test on the water flowing out of the Intra coastal Waterway here in West Palm Beach and it is loaded with copper. Every year the algae blooms in the Intra coastal Waterway kills massive amounts of fish. The use of herbicides and insecticides to control the weeds and mosquito's in our canal systems is sanctioned by our government. What other choice do they have? Paddlefish aqua ecosystems!

Human-induced mortalities threaten the longevity of Florida's manatee population, and must be minimized if we are going to successfully recover manatees. Pollution, boat traffic, and disease take their toll on the manatees every year. If they would just slow down and take their time to look where they are going, then maybe a few manatees would avoid the propeller impact. Certainly nobody wants to hit one of these creatures but the joy of boating and a few drinks can produce catastrophe for these creatures. Speed bumps on the road will slow people down. I am not certain at this point if the paddlefish will work for this but it is worth a try. I would rather loose a few cheap farm raised paddlefish than even one of these precious manatee. I will be investigating the related habitats of both the manatee and the paddlefish.

One unique management method is to drain all the canals and have dry land. At least we are always ready for the next big rain fall. It does not do much for the indigenous small fish that are quickly eaten or killed off. Yea, the birds make out great for a day or so but it takes years to recuperate the fish. The other big problem with this method is the saltwater encroachment that is stimulated by the lack of ground water. Therefore the need to redo the everglades systems is seen as a solution to these problems. OK, more water, more animals, more problems? The draining of the left over phosphate mines is a major problem that seems to be getting better with the millions of dollars that have gone into it. The management of this ecosystem must be correct in order to have a good outcome, and this may require considerable changes in management methods along the way. Paddlefish aqua ecosystems! Every canal represents a potential filter system. The Japanese are serious about their Koi, notice no algae in this pond. Fewer suspended organics would equal fewer invasive plants. In fact the Paddlefish might make an interesting addition to the average Koi pond.

Paddlefish are a natural way of dealing with both the insects and the algae. If the paddlefish is healthy then the entire system of trophic levels are healthy. Parasitic chytrid fungus has a unique way of filtering it's way through the system of algae and mosquitoes to kill frogs. Malaria and other diseases are carried by mosquitoes and can be controlled with small fish and frogs. It all goes round and round from phytoplankton to alligator in the complicated food chain dynamics. As the trophic levels rise, the predators should become fewer, larger, fiercer, and more agile. This very unique, lowly fish that deserves our complete attention anyway, has the potential to bring it all together. This idea deserves the attention of everyone involved with the ecosystem restoration of Florida. From well founded science at the University of Kentucky, FTFFA, Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Water management authority; the entire system can come together, and accomplish something special for the world that our children will be living in.

The word "need" can be a relative term. I hope to demonstrate the need for the paddlefish in florida within the over all expression and content of this web site. I would think that it should be defined in terms of florida's need as a state; more tourist, better money management, more jobs, etc. However, other needs like; of the fish it's self, and the people with money, can not be simply over looked.