The Challenging Journey for Piscicidal Use in Fisheries Management

The use of piscicides to manage fisheries in North America and elsewhere began in the 1930s and has now become an extreme challenge from those who feel that no chemical should be used to the regulatory agencies who have developed extensive requirements for their use.  These challenges include (1) public perception of piscicidal use, (2) restrictions on piscicidal use, (3) environmental laws affecting piscicides, and (4) agency funding.  The only legal, general piscicides available today are antimycin and rotenone.

These challenges have required that agencies and/or organizations who use piscicides to manage fisheries and provide for restoration of threatened/endangered fish species have to work together to accomplish even maintaining any use of these very effective chemicals.  This process includes sharing information on all aspects of piscicidal use, working together to come up with funding, and developing techniques, equipment, and safety gear that enhance the efficacy and safety of the piscicides to the environment, people, and non-target organisms.  The Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center and the AFS Fish Management Chemicals Subcommittee played major roles in maintaining the registrations of these two piscicides.