CATCH & RELEASE & CONSERVATION: Are we doing it right?

A critical approach.

Definitions

Catch & Release by definition is an ethical act of conservation practiced within recreational fishing whereby captured fish are unhooked and returned to the water before experiencing any serious exhaustion or injury than could cause deformities or fatality.

Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation and protection. Its primary focus is upon rectifying, restoring and maintaining the health of the natural world, its fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Those who follow the conservation ethic and, especially, those who advocate or work toward conservation goals are termed conservationists.

Conservation Biology is the scientific study of the nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions. It is an interdisciplinary subject drawing on natural and social sciences, and the practice of natural resource management.

The Conservation Ethic is based on the findings of Conservation Biology.

The Natural World in its broadest sense, is the natural physical, biological, ecological and geological state of the world or universe.

Nature refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large part of science. Nature is the intrinsic characteristics that plants, animals, and other features of the world develop of their own accord, often referred to as the course of nature.Nature can refer to the general realm of living plants and animals, and in some cases to the processes associated with inanimate objects – the way that particular types of things exist and change of their own accord, such as the weather and geology of the Earth. It is often taken to mean the "natural environment" or wilderness–wild animals, rocks, forest, and in general those things that have not been substantially altered by human intervention, or which persist despite human intervention. Although humans are part of nature, human activity is a separate category from other natural phenomena. Manufactured objects, manmade alterations and human interaction generally are not considered part of nature. This more traditional concept of natural things which can still be found today implies a distinction between the natural and the artificial.

Artificial is understood as that which has been brought into being by human consciousness or a human mind.

Introduction

To plainly put it, Catch & Release is not just about catching a fish and then throwing it back into the water. It’s a whole lot more than just that. C&R is restoration. C&R is preservation. C&R is a principle. C&R is a state of mind.

By truly understanding the definitions given, you would probably have an idea of the actual depth of that simple act of releasing a fish. C&R is the right understanding towards the preservation and restoration of a natural ecosystem. 

To fully understand the meaning and value of C&R, the angler must first learn to love and understand nature itself, in all its beauty, diversity and splendour, not just the fish. Once this is achieved, only then is it possible to exercise C&R to its fullest potential. 

The Jigsaw Puzzle

The angler must be able to understand the fish’s contribution to a fully functioning natural ecosystem. The part the fish plays in it. What other organisms or species rely on the fish's survival? What does the fish rely on for its survival? How is it part of the life cycles in the habitat? The plants that depend on it. Habitat population control. Down to the little microorganisms that are connected to it. All this plays an important part in conservation and preservation of that particular ecosystem.

Creation came about like a huge, absolutely beautiful jigsaw puzzle. Each living creature positioned and fit perfectly into its ecological and geological systems. Now imagine one piece goes missing. Or one piece is intentionally repositioned. That puzzle picture will never be complete and can serve no useful purpose anymore. It has lost its beauty. Until and unless that piece of the puzzle is rectified and restored.

Mankind were ordained to be the guardians of nature but instead we are destroying it faster than it can restore itself. And all for mostly selfish and inconsiderate reasons. 

They say to create awareness and educate fellow anglers on the value of C&R is the best way. Well yes. I do agree. But is the education and information that we give them correct? Are we conveying the true meaning and value of C&R? The right decision is always an educated decision.

Techniques of Catch and Release

The use of correct techniques is crucial in the survival of the fish you are about to release. By the proper hook-up, battle, landing and handling of the fish, you’ll be doing your part to ensure that there will be more and bigger fish for the next generation of anglers.

Sport-caught fish typically die for one of two reasons during catch-and-release: wounding and/or stress. Although some wounding may be unavoidable, the use of proper equipment and careful handling can keep this to a minimum. The following tips showcase what the angler can do to be successful at C&R with success equating to survival.

Handling of Fish

For effective catch and release fishing techniques, avoid excessive fish fighting and handling times, avoid damage to fish skin, scale and slime layers by nets, dry hands and dry surfaces (that leave fish vulnerable to fungal skin infections), and avoid damage to throat ligaments and gills by poor handling techniques.

Do not handle fish by placing your fingers in the gill slits. Fish gill filaments are very sensitive and can easily be injured. Fish should be handled by cradling the fish near the head and tail if possible, or by gently holding the fish near the mid-section. Fish can be safely handled by holding the lower jaw, thumb in the mouth and forefinger under the chin or with a lip grip in the case of toothy fish.

Landing Nets & Slings

It is also important to use a type of net that is not abrasive to the fish (such as a rubber coated net or lightweight mesh), because fish can easily damage themselves in a hard plastic-style net while thrashing. A horizontal sling is most recommend when handling fish out of the water

Gaffs
Avoid the use of gaffs at all costs.

Lip Grips

Lip gripping devices may be used to help subdue fish. However, they should not be used to hoist fish vertically out of the water, as this can cause damage to jaw muscle and bone as well as to internal organs. The best method for removing fish from the water is to grip the fish or the lower jaw and support the fish’s underside. Again, the point is always to hold fish horizontally and not vertically

Hooks

The use of barbless hooks is an important aspect of catch and release; barbless hooks reduce injury and handling time, increasing survival. Frequently, fish caught on barbless hooks can be released without being removed from the water, and the hook(s) effortlessly slipped out with a single flick of the pliers or leader. Barbless hooks can be purchased from several major manufacturers or can be created from a standard hook by crushing the barb(s) flat with needle-nosed pliers

Single hooks are more easily removed than multi-point hooks, such as trebles. It is not advisable to use treble hooks as injuries by treble hooks are more severe as the chances for a fouled hook up is very high. But in the case whereby the angler still insists on using it, lures that have treble hooks should have the barbs bent down or removed to facilitate easier hook removal.

Modifying the types of hooks you use can significantly affect a fish’s chances for survival after it is released. When fishing with natural bait (dead or alive), it is strongly encouraged to use non-offset circle hooks. Extensive research on various species has demonstrated that circle hooks gut hook significantly fewer fish without sacrificing catch rates.

Fishing Line

Stress is caused by a variety of factors, including taking too long to land a fish or catching a fish by exerting extreme amounts pressure on it. Fishing line of sufficient test-strength is to be used to not unnecessarily prolong the fight. Bring the fish in to shore or to your boat directly and release it quickly. Please note, fish caught from deep water will often die unless they are brought to the surface slowly.

Landing and Hook Removal

If the angler is not going to photograph the fish or document it for record purposes, the best method is to not remove the fish from the water. In-water releases can be aided by the use of de-hooking devices that eliminate the need to boat the fish and keep hands safe distances away from the fish. If the fish has swallowed the hook, it is much better for the angler to cut the leader as close to the fish as possible, rather than trying to forcibly remove the hook.

If a fish needs to be removed from the water to remove the hook and/or document it for record purposes, anglers should use either their hands or knotless, rubberized landing net. Most small to moderately large sized fish can be landed by hand. Ideally, this should be done with wet hands or soft, wet gloves to minimize slime and scale loss

Documentation

Pictures, measurements and/or weighing of the catches takes time, so you should have the necessary equipment ready before landing the fish. If a fish is to be weighed, horizontal slings are preferred. However, scales that weigh fish vertically still provide a chance for survival if done quickly. 

Fish should be measured on a smooth, wet surface. Never place fish on a hot, rough surface as it can result in slime and scale loss, which can make the fish prone to infection and death. If the documentation process takes longer than several minutes, periodically place the fish back in the water or in a live well to allow it to breath.

Never remove large fish from the water. Large fish can injure themselves and the crew and should, therefore, be treated with respect. Take a photograph of the fish in the water and release it.

Releasing a Fish

Considerable time and care should be exercised when releasing fish. First, when possible, release fish in areas away from predators. During the fight and landing, there is a short term accumulation of lactic acid and stress hormones in fish muscle that makes it more difficult for them to evade predators after release. Fish should be placed in the water and held by the base of the tail. 

If the fish does not swim away from your grasp on its own, gently move it forward in the water to get water flowing over the gills. For best results, move the fish in the forward direction only instead of back in forth. A fish’s gills somewhat resemble the pages of a book and are designed for water flow in only one direction. Moving the fish in a slow circle or gently towing it behind the boat will accomplish this.

Fish that are bleeding from the mouth or gills due to hook removal and handling indicate your catch and release techniques need to improve .Survival is reduced significantly when damage resulting in bleeding occurs; if regulations allow, fish that are bleeding are the ones that you should consider keeping.

Question: Should we release all fish caught, irrespective of species? 

Firstly, here are two examples of very common fish: The Peacock Bass and The Tilapia. 

Tilapias were introduced into the Malaysian freshwater bodies as an aquatic food source. Being ardent breeders, they have multiplied and infested almost all accessible bodies of freshwater. Since introduction, tilapias have been ultimately successful in destroying whole river and pond ecosystems in a few short years. Plants and animals that depend on these now infested/disrupted ecosystems have not been able to restore themselves at all. 

The Peacock Bass was brought in by irresponsible anglers. They were introduced into bodies of water along the northern states of Malaysia for the sole reason of sport fishing. Peacock bass are most ferocious eaters and fast breeders. They eat almost anything in their path. Snakehead, Perch, Barb, Carp and so many other local and endemic fish populations have just vanished from the ecosystems due to this fish. 

Research papers and studies done of the impact these species have on Malaysian Ecosystems can be widely obtained online. There are many more alien species such as these. 

So, do we release them back into ecosystem? 

C&R is about making very conscious and educated decisions. It is the ability to correctly identify and evaluate the relating factors pertaining to the fish and the ecosystem without any emotional deterrence. It’s about doing the right thing. 

Having said that, I shall leave the question to be answered by the angler himself. 

Doing the Right Thing 

Maybe our approach to C&R, could be just a little bit better. Maybe we really should take a better informed, educated and researched approached towards C&R. 

Only well informed and educated anglers are truly able appreciate and understand the natural habitats we fish in. We study so much about a fish just to catch it. We study its surroundings, its natural habitats, its behaviour and biology just so we could catch that fish. Indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, we are actually studying and understanding a whole ecosystem just to catch a fish. This is already the perfect kick start to an educated approach to Catch & Release. 

Who else then, would be better to educate another fellow angler about the value of educated C&R efforts? 

In the most humble of opinions, C&R is not just merely saving a fish so we can fish another day. Fishing and C&R is about a God given opportunity to restore, preserve and care for the ecosystem. It’s about an opportunity to restore a damaged natural world. 

If done right, even though a very small part, the difference and change we make would be remarkably huge…and all this while doing what we love most… Fishing!

An Article By

Justin Thomas