Conservation Fisheries Inc

F18AP00121

PURPOSE: WE PROPOSE TO IMPLEMENT A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AT MULTIPLE NFHS TO INDEPENDENTLY MANAGE PROPAGATION AND REINTRODUCTION ACTIVITIES FOR A SUITE OF PRIORITY FEDERALLY LISTED FISH AT VARIOUS STAGES ALONG THEIR RECOVERY TRAJECTORIES (CRITICALLY ENDANGERED, IMPROVING, AND NEARING RECOVERY). WE ARE REQUESTING FUNDS THAT WILL ENABLE THE TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY FROM CFI TO THE NFHS, AND IF SUCCESSFUL COULD BE REPLICATED AT THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST AND OTHER REGIONS. IN ADDITION TO LEVERAGING EXISTING RESOURCES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE SERVICE, THIS PROPOSAL WILL INCREASE CAPACITY TO CONSERVE ENDANGERED SPECIES IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATES.ACTIVITIES:(1) TRANSITION PRIORITY PROPAGATION ACTIVITIES FROM CFI TO NFHS TO INCREASE SERVICES ABILITY TO RECOVER AND RESTORE NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS THAT ARE THREATENED OR ENDANGERED. (2) TRANSITION CFIS OPERATIONS FROM A PROJECT-BY-PROJECT APPROACH TO A PROGRAMMATIC FRAMEWORK. (3) EXPAND OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO MEET EXISTING AND FUTURE PROJECT NEEDS BY CONNECTING SPECIES NEEDS WITH CURRENT OR DEVELOPING USFWS CAPACITIES. (4) ADVANCE THE RECOVERY TRAJECTORY FOR MULTIPLE SPECIES (I.E., BLUEMASK DARTER, BOULDER DARTER, DUSKYTAIL DARTER LEOPARD DARTER, PEARL DARTER, PEPPERED SHINER, AND SPOTFIN CHUB).DELIVERABLES: YEAR 1 (10 01 2024 - 09 30 2025) CFI COLLECTS BROODSTOCK FROM MS AND TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO CFIS FACILITY. CFI HIRES AND TRAINS BIOLOGIST IN BROODSTOCK COLLECTION, PROPAGATION, AND REINTRODUCTION, AND POPULATION MONITORING TECHNIQUES. PARTNERING STATES IDENTIFY FOCAL SPECIES FOR MULTI-STATE S6 RARE FISH PROGRAM AT CFI. CFI ASSISTS WITH ERWIN NFH EQUIPMENT SETUP.YEAR 2 (10 01 2025 - 9 30 2026) CFI BIOLOGIST HIRED IN YEAR 1 IS DEPLOYED TO DH NFH. MIGRATE BARRENS TOPMINNOW OPERATIONS TO DH NFH PRODUCTION AND STOCKING OF INDIVIDUALS INITIATE GENETIC TRACKING. MIGRATE SPOTFIN CHUB OPERATIONS TO ERWIN NFH PRODUCTION AND STOCKING OF INDIVIDUALS. ADDITIONAL SPACE AND INCREASED PROPAGATION OF DUSKYTAIL DARTER SUSTAINED SPACE FOR LEOPARD DARTER ADDITIONAL SPACE TO DEVELOP PEPPERED SHINER CULTURE TECHNIQUES AT CFI. DH NFH T E FACILITY EXPANSION AND READINESS FOR INTAKE OF SECOND SPECIES. SHIFT S6 FUNDING SUPPORTING FROM TARGET SPECIES MOVING TO NFHS TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR STATE HATCHERY PRIORITY 1 PROPAGATION TRANSLOCATION RECOVERY ACTIVITIES. MULTI-STATE S6 RARE FISH PROGRAM AT CFI @ 10% MATCH RATE FOR PARTICIPATING STATES.YEAR 3 (10 01 2026 - 9 30 2027) NFHS DEMONSTRATE INDEPENDENT ABILITY TO COLLECT BROODSTOCK, CAPTIVELY PROPAGATE, REINTRODUCE, AND MONITOR TARGET SPECIES, AND PRODUCTION OF LIVE FOODS FOR LARVAL FEEDING. MIGRATE BOULDER DARTER OPERATIONS TO DH NFH PRODUCTION AND STOCKING OF INDIVIDUALS. IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTI-STATE SECTION 6 PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT RARE FISH RECOVERY AT CFI. COMPLETE DH NFH T E FACILITY SET-UP AND DESIGN FORMAL EDUCATION OUTREACH CENTER.ANNUALLY CFI PROVIDES CAPTIVELY PROPAGATED INDIVIDUALS OF TARGET SPECIES FOR REINTRODUCTION. CFI REFINES DOCUMENTS PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS FOR TARGET SPECIES (INCLUDING THE PRODUCTION OF LIVE FOODS FOR LARVAL FEEDING) IN PARTNERSHIP W NFH AND ESFO BIOLOGISTS. CFI MENTOR(S) CONDUCT AT LEAST ONE SITE VISIT ANNUALLY TO EACH PARTNERING NFH. PARTNERING ESFOS AND NFHS WILL AID CFI IN BROODSTOCK COLLECTION, REINTRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY MONITORING SURVEYS FOR TARGET SPECIES. FISH HEALTH SCREENING FOR TARGET SPECIES AT WARM SPRING NFH AS NEEDS ARISE. PARTNERS INCLUDE THIS PROJECT AS PART OF THEIR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TARGETING APPROXIMATELY 75,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY ACROSS PARTNERING HATCHERIES. PARTNERING NFHS AND CFI WILL PROVIDE REPORTS TO PARTNERING ESFOS BY DECEMBER 31.BENEFICIARIES: DALE HALLOW, ERWIN, PRIVATE J OHN ALLEN, WARN SPRINGS NFH, CFI AND FWS.

TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,000 AND TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

TO PROGAGATE, REINTRODUCE AND MOITOR SPOTFIN CHUBS AND BOULDER DARTERS IN SHOAL CREEK

PROJECT STATEMENT TWO ENDEMIC FISHES, BLACKSIDE DACE AND CUMBERLAND ARROW DARTERS, HAVE BEEN EXTIRPATED FROM A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR FORMER RANGE, INCLUDING THE DAVIS BRANCH WATERSHED IN CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (CUGA). IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) AND CONSERVATION FISHERIES, INC., WILL EXPAND THE POPULATIONS OF BOTH BLACKSIDE DACE AND CUMBERLAND ARROW DARTERS IN THE PARK BY AN EXPERIMENTAL RELEASE INTO DAVIS BRANCH USING FISH COLLECTED AND PROPAGATED FROM LITTLE YELLOW CREEK ABOVE FERN LAKE. PERFORMANCE GOALS THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO RESTORE THE DAVIS BRANCH STREAM COMMUNITY BY COLLECTION, PROPAGATION, AND RELEASE OF TWO ENDEMIC FISHES FROM LITTLE YELLOW CREEK ABOVE FERN LAKE.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING LONG-TERM REINTRODUCTIONS EFFORT FOR THE CAROLINA MADTOM CURRENTLY BEING PERFORMED UNDER A GRANT WITH NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION ENDING 12 31 2024, TO PROMOTE POPULATION GROWTH WITHIN TWO WATERSHEDS (IN THE TAR AND NEUSE RIVER DRAINAGES IN NORTH CAROLINA) AND HELP TO ACHIEVE RECOVERY GOALS OF THIS IMPERILED SPECIES. BASED ON CFI S 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH NATIVE FRESHWATER NON-GAME FISH RESTORATION PROJECTS, YEARS (OF DECADES) OF REINTRODUCTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH SELF-SUSTAINING POPULATIONS OF RARE, THREATENED, OR ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES. USFWS FUNDS WILL BE USED BEGINNING 01 01 2025 TO EXTEND THIS PROJECT.CFI ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE PROPAGATION OF POPULATIONS OF CAROLINA MADTOM IN COOPERATION WITH FWS PARTNERS. JUVENILES WILL BE RELEASED IN OCTOBER NOVEMBER AT APPROPRIATE SITES DETERMINED BY THE USFWS AND NCWRC.THE PRIMARY DELIVERABLES ARE YOUNG, HEALTHY, VIE MARKED CAROLINA MADTOMS THAT WILL BE RELEASED INTO THEIR NATIVE HABITATS. CFI ALSO WILL PROVIDE ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS AND A FINAL REPORT TO THE RALEIGH FIELD OFFICE. USFWS AND NCWRC STAFF WILL CONTRIBUTE TIME AND TRAVEL TO PARTICIPATE IN BROODSTOCK COLLECTION AND RELEASE OF PROGENY. IF NEEDED, THE NCWRC MAY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT VIA HATCHERY SPACE, CARE, AND MAINTENANCE OF BROODSTOCK OR PROGENY AT THE MARION CONSERVATION AQUACULTURE CENTER (MCAC) IN MARION, NC, IN PREPARATION FOR RELEASE. THE MCAC SUCCESSFULLY OVERWINTERED JUVENILES OF PREVIOUS COHORTS TO RELIEVE SPACE CONSTRAINTS AT CFI DUE TO HIGHLYSUCCESSFUL YEARS OF PRODUCING MORE CAROLINA MADTOMS THAN ANTICIPATED. CAROLINA MADTOM RECOVERY GOALS WOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THIS WORK.

CONSERVATION FISHERIES, INC. (CFI) PROPOSES TO REINTRODUCE ENDANGERED DUSKYTAIL DARTERS INTO THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER, IMPLEMENTING THE INTENTION OF AN ESA SECTION 10(J) RULE DESIGNATING THE PROPOSED PROJECT AREA AS A NONESSENTIAL EXPERIMENTAL POPULATION (NEP) FOR THIS FISH. THE PROJECT INCLUDES OUTREACH RECOVERY ACTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY IMPLEMENTED AND PREVENT EXTINCTION OF A CRITICALLY VULNERABLE DUSKYTAIL DARTER POPULATION. THE USFWS, THE STATES (TENNESSEE AND VIRGINIA), SEVEN ISLANDS FOUNDATION, AND CFI WILL MANAGE AND COORDINATE REINTRODUCTIONS, MONITORING, PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND OTHER TASKS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE PROJECTSSUCCESS. CHARACTERISTICS SUITABLE FOR THE TARGET SPECIES REMAIN INTACT AS DESCRIBED IN THE FINAL 10(J) RULE (USFWS 2007), AND THE PRESENCE OF OTHER SENSITIVE FISH AND MUSSELS (SNAIL DARTER, PINK MUCKET PEARLYMUSSEL, AND LAKE STURGEON) IN THE NEP REACH PROVIDE INDICATIONS OF THE HEALTH OF THE RIVERINE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, SEVERAL DAMS PREVENT NATURAL RECOLONIZATION OF MANY NONGAME FISHES, INCLUDING THE SUBJECTS OF THIS PROPOSAL. TO DATE, LIMITED REINTRODUCTIONS OF THREATENED YELLOWFIN MADTOM HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED IN THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER NEP. YELLOWFIN MADTOM REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE UNDER A RECOVERY CHALLENGE GRANT AWARDED TO CFI IN 2023. THE RECOVERY CHALLENGE GRANT APPLICATION ORIGINALLY INCLUDED BOTH YELLOWFIN MADTOM AND DUSKYTAIL DARTER, HOWEVER DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THE REQUEST WAS LIMITED TO ONLY YELLOWFIN MADTOM. SINCE THAT APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED, CFI HAS SECURED OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF SECURING AN ADDITIONAL 102,765 IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF THE DUSKYTAIL DARTER TO THIS REINTRODUCTION EFFORT. THE PROJECT BRINGS NEW PARTNERS INTO EXISTING, LONG-STANDING CFI-AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS. THE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ADVANCE THE FAR-REACHING GOALS OF THE 2007 NEP. THE OUTREACH COMPONENT WILL SECURE BROADER PUBLIC INTEREST AND POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR THE RECOVERY OF AQUATIC SPECIES, AND THESE TWO FISHES. THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT WILL INFORM FUTURE PROJECTS FOR OTHER SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE NEP DESIGNATION.

TO DEVELOP CAPTIVE PROPAGATION AND HUSBANDRY PROTOCOLS FOR 2 CANDIDATE AND 1 POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FISH

RESTORATION OF SPOTFIN CHUB TO SHOAL CREEK, TN.

REFINE HUSBANDRY AND CAPTIVE PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS TO ALLOW FOR PRODUCTION OF DIAMOND DARTER AND/OR CRYSTAL DARTER

CONSERVATION FISHERIES, INC. (CFI) PROPOSES TO REINTRODUCE ENDANGERED THREATENED YELLOWFIN MADTOMS INTO THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER, IMPLEMENTING THE INTENTION OF AN ESA SECTION 10(J) RULE DESIGNATING THE PROPOSED PROJECT AREA AS A NONESSENTIAL EXPERIMENTAL POPULATION (NEP) FOR THIS FISH. THE PROJECT INCLUDES OUTREACH RECOVERY ACTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY IMPLEMENTED, AND SUPPORT YELLOWFIN MADTOM DELISTING. THE USFWS, THE STATES (TENNESSEE AND VIRGINIA), SEVEN ISLANDS FOUNDATION, AND CFI WILL MANAGE AND COORDINATE REINTRODUCTIONS, MONITORING, PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND OTHER TASKS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE PROJECTS SUCCESS. CHARACTERISTICS SUITABLE FOR THE TARGET SPECIES REMAIN INTACT AS DESCRIBED IN THE FINAL 10(J) RULE (USFWS 2007), AND THE PRESENCE OF OTHER SENSITIVE FISH AND MUSSELS (SNAIL DARTER, PINK MUCKET PEARLYMUSSEL, AND LAKE STURGEON) IN THE NEP REACH PROVIDE INDICATIONS OF THE HEALTH OF THE RIVERINE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, SEVERAL DAMS PREVENT NATURAL RECOLONIZATION OF MANY NON-GAME FISHES, INCLUDING THE SUBJECTS OF THIS PROPOSAL. ON OCTOBER 4, 2022, CFI AND USFWS- COOKEVILLE ES RELEASED 50 YELLOWFIN MADTOMS INTO FRENCH BROAD RIVER NEP TO BEGIN RESTORATION WORK. THE PROJECT BRINGS NEW PARTNERS INTO EXISTING, LONG-STANDING CFI-AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS. THE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ADVANCE THE FAR-REACHING GOALS OF THE 2007 NEP. THE OUTREACH COMPONENT WILL SECURE BROADER PUBLIC INTEREST AND POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR THE RECOVERY OF AQUATIC SPECIES, AND THESE TWO FISHES. THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT WILL INFORM FUTURE PROJECTS FOR OTHER SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE NEP DESIGNATION.

ADD FUNDING TO CURRENT AGREEMENT

TO ADD FUNDING

CONSERVATION FISHERIES, INC. (CFI) PROPOSES TO DEVELOP CAPTIVE PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS AND PRODUCE INDIVIDUALS OF PEARL DARTER (PERCINA AURORA) TO SUPPORT U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) DRAFT RECOVERY GOALS FOR THIS THREATENED FISH SPECIES.DURING THIS EFFORT, CFI WILL: DEVELOP AND DOCUMENT CAPTIVE PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS FOR THE THREATENED PEARL DARTER. COORDINATE WITH PRIVATE JOHN ALLEN NATIONAL FISHERY HATCHERY BIOLOGISTS ON DEVELOPING AND REFINING THESE PROTOCOLS. PROVIDE CAPTIVELY PROPAGATED INDIVIDUALS TO USFWS AND MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES, AND PARKS (MDWFP) FOR REINTRODUCTION PURPOSES. PROVIDE A FINAL REPORT OF ALL ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER THIS GRANT.DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PROTOCOLS IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DRAFT PEARL DARTER RECOVERY PLAN AND WILL AID USFWS AND MDWFP IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CONSERVE AND RECOVER POPULATIONS OF THIS THREATENED SPECIES.

DEVELOPMENT OF CONTROLLED PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS FOR THE THREATENED LEOPARD DARTER (PERCINA PANTHERINA)

DUSKYTAIL DARTERS IN COPPER CREEK

F18AC00290

ESTABLISH AN ARK POPULATION OF THE DIAMOND DARTER