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Show FIsCn Dinraipoirtts: Ooonicisirini The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources receives numerous telephone calls requesting permission to import fish species twit native to Utah. In all cases the requests are given thorough consideration, considera-tion, but in must instances they must be denied. MANY PtOPLE see advertisements highlighting the protein value, vegetation control or commercial potential of certain fish species. Roderick Stone, assistant chief of the Division's Fisheries Section said that most of these individuals want to place the new species in private ponds but that the potential problems from the introduction far outweigh the possible advantages There are many documented cases of new species being introduced to combat a vegetation problem or to create a new lishery. Generally, people do not comprehend the extensive influence of such an introduction. "In the first place, the new species could, and probably would, escape into the water systems of the stale, where they would compete with the natural fish of Utah, including most of the game fish present. MANY SPKCTES, contrary to popular information, utilise the same food sources as the more valuable fish before they consume vegetation. This would result in a lost game fish population, an increasingly expensive slocking program or, in alt probability, both." Stone said The case of the "German carp" in Ulah and the "walking catfish" in the southern United States are excellent, well-known examples of what nappens in the majority of ihese cases. The second most common reason for wanting to import fish is for commercial purposes. So far. such entures have been unable to market most of these species to the American public. Again, the German carp is a good example. It is popular just about everywhere in the world except America. The American consumer hasn't bought the idea of fish protein yet. so there really is little current market for this type of would-be commercial fish farming. TYPICALLY, much of the concern centers around various species of "carp." One of the reasons for private interest is that some literature expounds the vegetative vege-tative consuming qualities of carp, the grass carp being a prime example. According Ac-cording to Division Fisheries biologists, the biology of this fish in the United States is not well enough known to predict how it will behave. Many carp were introduced in the Southeast to help alleviate vegetative problems. The lish's behavior showed that it eats the vegetation only alter the source ol insects is depleted. It thus appears ap-pears to compete directly with the lood source of game fish THERE is no known problem in Utah with such fish as the grass carp, silver carp, buffalofish. drum or the walking catfish; but even one incident could be damaging. There have been problems, however, with people transporting and releasing species of fish from one slate water into another body of water that was not suited for them, or that competed too heavily with lish already present. Steinaker Reservoir is a prime example. In the earlv '70s someone apparently ap-parently decided that this was a good place to fish for bass and introduced the species. At the time, the reservoir was being managed as a trout fishery and was yielding good results. THE RESULT OF the bass plant will probably be a fishery prcxJucing little in the way of acceptable fish. The bass prey on the young trout causing the trout population to dwindle. In the small reservoir their food sources are limited and consequently their growth will likely be the same, the bass now average perhaps eight inches in length The bass are loo small for fishermen to take home, so Ihev stay in the reservoir to compound a future overcrowding problem The solution to the problem will be costly no matter what direction the Division chooses to pursue BOTH THE proclamation of the Wildlife Board for protected aquatic wildlife and the Wildlife- Resources Code ol Ulah make it very clear that importing wildlife without the proper permission or registration from the Division is against the law. Potential damage is great and could he costly to the citizens of Utah In order to obtain permission to import nonnauve fish into Utah, a person must purchase a Certificate of Importation from the Division of wildlife Resources prior to importing the fish 1 he Certificates Cer-tificates are available at all Dmsion office's. of-fice's. A DICLARATION of intent, including the number, kind, species and origin of wildlife must be filed with the Division In addition, certain health requirements are mandator, as ,s written permission from the Division for the release ol imported animals Prix lamations regarding the importing and exporting of wildhle are available |