In 1998, the US Geological Survey and the Leopold Institute sponsored a workshop at the Flathead Lake Biological Station, Polson, Montana, in order to explore the issue of fish stocking in wilderness lakes. Participants included 45 scientists, managers, wilderness users and advocates, and students. The format of the meeting included 24 invited talks organized into four subject areas:
- overview of fish stocking in wilderness
- community and ecosystem effects
- effects on species
- restoration and management
Each session concluded with an hour of questions and informal discussion. The workshop proceedings have been compiled and published in Ecosystems. 2001. Vol. 4, No. 4.
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Objectives
To present wilderness managers with the latest research results and management recommendations on the effects of fish introductions on wilderness lakes; to allow discussion of issues, areas of agreement, conflicts, and recommendations for future management and research among managers, scientists, and wilderness and recreation users; and to publish a compilation of research results and management recommendations that will be useful for scientists and managers alike.
Justification
The conflicts between managing wilderness as "natural" ecosystems, and providing opportunities for recreation are especially acute in fisheries management. Native and non-native sport fish have been introduced into the majority of historically fish-less lakes in wilderness, usually to the detriment of the native biota. Managers are faced with controversial and difficult decisions in how to manage wilderness lakes, but do not always have ready access to research relevant to these decisions. Considerable research has been conducted on this topic recently, and this workshop is proposed as a means to expose managers and wilderness users to this research, and to expose scientists to the concerns and constraints of managers and users.
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