The Use of Sanctuaries for Protecting Nesting Black Bass From Angling

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The Use of Sanctuaries for Protecting Nesting
Black Bass From Angling

• Cory D. Suki, Frank J. S. Phelan, Mark F.
  Kubacki, David D. Philipp
• 2002
• American Fisheries Society Symposium
• Kirsten Brendtro

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Location of Study
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Major Questions

• Do Voluntary Bass Conservation Zones (VBCZ)
  protect vulnerable spawning males from angling?
• VBCZs are areas within the lakes that are closed
  voluntarily through bass spawning season
• How does local advertisement and community
  enforcement effect success of VBCZs?

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Major Findings

• VBCZ successful in protecting nesting largemouth
  and smallmouth bass at Lake Opinicon
• Moderate success at Loughborough Lake
• Hookwound rates greater inside VBCZ at Bobs Lake

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Overall Findings

• With good advertisement and local community
  enforcement VBCZs can be successful at protecting
  spawning bass
• Poorly enforced VBCZs can contribute to higher
  angling of spawning bass

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Recommendations

• VBCZs should be initiated in lakes where local
  stakeholders are willing to enforce the areas
• For lakes without strong local enforcement,
  legislated No Fishing Zones may be required