2012 Everglades CISMA non-native Fish roundup, Sat, May 19, 2012

How many remember fishing in the Everglades area, along the Tamiami Trail or in any of the many canals in the area?  The freshwater quarry then was Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Bowfin and even the occasional Florida Gar just for the sport of it.  Now there is a fishing tournament geared to those fish you may not remember, but are uninvited guests, known as invasive species.  Here is an opportunity to go catch some to satisfy your competitive nature.  The  This is the first time I have heard of this event held by the Everglades CISMA (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area). I recommend that anyone who use to fish along the Tamiami Trail or in the Everglades, take a look at this unique event.  

What is a CISMA? (Info taken from its website): The Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is a formal partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, tribes, individuals and various interested groups that manage invasive species and is defined by a geographic boundary.

The CISMA is holding its Everglades non-native Fish roundup on Saturday, May 19, 2012.  CLICK HERE for more information on the event, including rules and regulations.  The Everglades ecosystem is home to at least 22 non-native freshwater fish species. These non-native fish may be causing detrimental changes to our native fish communities, particularly as the number of new species continues to increase. All but two of these fish were introduced illegally as the result of releases of unwanted pets and food fish, or due to the flooding of aquaculture ponds.

The Everglades CISMA is hosting the Everglades Non-native Fish roundup to raise public awareness about the potential negative impacts of releasing non-native fish into Florida waters, and to encourage anglers to target these non-native species for consumption. The Roundup will also gather data into non-native fish distribution and abundance that can assist in their management.

Online Registration Form

The intent of the 2012 Everglades CISMA non-native Fish roundup is to raise awareness of the potential negative environmental consequences of releasing non-native fish and to gather information on non-native fish and their ranges throughout the Everglades.

OTHER ITEMS ON INTEREST ON THE CISMA SITE:

Everglades Invasive Species Information and Images

There is more than just information about a fish round up.  Click on the above link and choose a category to view the list of invasive species, including Plants, Reptiles, Birds, Amphibians, Fish, Mammals, Insects, Mollusks, Crustaceans and Arachnids.

Note: The original source for the above information was a Miami-Dade Parks e-mail blast: "ParkLife E-Buzz".  Click the link to follow to the e-mail message and sign up to receive these informative e-mails concerning different events going on in Miami-Dade's Parks system.