California may allow crayfish harvesting in Tahoe
Besides having to deal with stolen traps, crayfish operations on Lake Tahoe are also limited to where they can work.
But that may change.
A bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Beth Gaines, R-Rocklin, to allow commercial fishing of crayfish in California’s waters of Lake Tahoe passed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Assembly Bill 165, which allows for commercial fishing of crayfish, is a response to worsening clarity of Lake Tahoe, the assemblywoman says.
Tahoe Lobster Co. crawfish were used at a food and wine fest. Photo/LTN file
The crustaceans are not native to Tahoe. Fishing them as close to extinction is a goal. Having them out of the lake, according to scientists, would help improve lake clarity. In the interim, it gives restaurants a uniquely local item to sell.
It is estimated that there are 240 million crawfish in Lake Tahoe. Without a native predator this number is expected grow at a faster rate.
“AB165 will now move to the Senate Natural Resource Committee. The bill has not received a single no vote in the Assembly, so the outlook is very positive,” Daniel Outlaw with the Gaines’ office told Lake Tahoe News.
Nevada changed its law in August to allow for commercial fishing for crayfish.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Since none of the game fish are native of course there is no “native” predators. There are several species of fish that feast on crayfish. The idea that Lahontan Cutthroat Trout could be reintroduced to the waters of Tahoe is impossible and impractical as the the Lake Trout is a population that can not be eradicated. As a guide on Lake Tahoe, I have cleaned thousands of Lake Trout that had stomachs full of crayfish. I have no problem with harvesting the crayfish but accurate information, as well realistic science dictates there is no chance of killing off the crayfish, nor is there accurate or specific data that would suggest that they are the reason for loss of lake clarity. I am tired of these so called scientists turning there back to the wall and throwing a dart to determine what to try next.
This is a start at least, as there are numerous factors that contribute to the decline of Lake Tahoe’s water quality. It doesn’t hurt to try, plus crayfish have had an effect on the natural ecosystem, as most introduced/invasive species do.
Game trout species do dine on crayfish but a bigger portion of their diets is the mysis shrimp, which is also introduced and has reduced the natural balance of native crustaceans (a.k.a. the natural food source of the cutthroat trout. Also, I’d like to point out that the Lake Trout is not the main reason why the Lahontan cutthroat will most likely never be re-established in Lake Tahoe – Rainbow Trout! Rainbow and cutthroats can hybridize and produce reproductive offspring. Guess which trout has the stronger genes, the rainbows! The introduced rainbows and the Lahontan cutthroats have the same reproductive cycle (i.e. spawn at the same time in the same habitat). We would ultimately have to rid Tahoe of its rainbow trout too to bring the Lahontan back, and by back I mean a self-sustaining reproductively viable population.
Most likely commercial crayfish harvesting will probably make a tiny dent in the Lake’s crayfish population, but hey, why not give it a shot since people will actually eat them; unlike the idea of harvesting Asian clams for human consumption.