4 more companies want to cash-in on Tahoe’s crayfish
Four outfitters want permission from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to harvest crayfish from Lake Tahoe.
In July, the Tahoe Lobster Company run by Fred Jackson received permission from Nevada officials to begin pulling the nonnative species from the lake and selling them for consumption. This is the first commercial fishing operation on Lake Tahoe since the 1930s.
Besides something different to dine on, removing the crayfish helps improve the clarity of the lake. They are linked to algae blooms.
Scientists estimate there are between 200 million and 300 million of them swimming around Lake Tahoe.
The current applicants are: Tahoe Crayfish Co., Tahoe Crayfish Henrichsen, Tahoe Blue Crayfish Co., and High Sierra Ventures. Each applicant wants to operate one vessel that could ply the waters of both states.
A public hearing will be conducted before a hearing officer of the TRPA on Dec. 20 at 2pm, 128 Market St., Stateline. Applications are available to review by the public at the TRPA office. For more info, call Patrick Stone at (775) 589.5213.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Well there goes our free dinner stash. . . Using bacon and string we’ve had caught enough of those little lobsters to put on a gourmet supper for 6. Now the corporates are being sold the rights to our meals?
‘Now the corporates are being sold the rights to our meals?’
So Dog,
Have you flip-flopped? You’re now anti free market capitalism?
I think the key word here is “harvesting” …you can still use your bacon and get your meal for 6.
Has anyone inquired how Lake Tahoe Lobster is doing or how many little guys have been harvested. Must be making good money if 4 more businesses want to jump in the waters.
Now if we could just figure a way to commercialize mussels and clams and let private industry control the pests.
Why not extend the harvesting to include Canada Geese?
Is there information on how comercial harvesting will be performed?
Is it limited to traps? Or will more disturbing methods be used?
tahoeadvocate several folks do hunt geese on the California side. But unfortunately the best hunting areas are off limits. That would be the golf courses.
Keep in mind that the Canadian Geese are a native species that has benefited greatly from the urbanization of Lake Tahoe (i.e. more lush lawns in the form of private Lake front estates and golf courses).
I completely agree with John on the technicalities of hunting in the Lake Tahoe Basin; the majority of the areas where the geese are present are off limits to hunting (i.e. our urban areas). Now if they geese would fly and land in the middle of the Lake all the time then hunters would be able to “bag” them.
Problem with these traps is that the buoys are underwater. Trollers are snagging these trap lines. Adding 4 more companies will simply add to this problem.
Other note: Crayfish are primary food source for them big Tahoe Browns. I hope the goal here is to reduce crayfish population and not eradicate them.