Supers:
Gainesville, FL
Linda Kubitz Reporting
Dr. Mike Allen-UF Fisheries Specialist
VO: THE COLD WEATHER THAT HAS GRIPPED MUCH OF THE NATION COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE RECREATIONAL FISHING. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCHERS SAY THE COLD TEMPERATURES COULD END UP STUNTING THE POPULATION OF ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FRESHWATER SPORTS FISH IN FLORIDA...THE BLACK CROPPIE. THE CROPPIE'S POPULATION NORMALLY FLUCTUATES FROM YEAR TO YEAR BUT THIS YEAR'S UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER MAY MAKE A BAD SITUATION EVEN WORSE. TO FIND OUT WHY THE POPULATION OF THIS POPULAR SPORT FISH CHANGES SO DRASTICALLY, UF FISHERIES EXPERT, DR. MIKE ALLEN IS SAMPLING BLACK CROPPIE IN 25 FLORIDA LAKES. HE'S MONITORING YOUNG CROPPIE TO DETERMINE THEIR AVERAGE SIZE, AVAILABILITY, AND DENSITY IN THESE LAKES. IT'S HOPED THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP FISHERIES MANAGERS DEVELOP NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO TRY TO MAKE FRESHWATER SPORTS FISHING MORE CONSISTENT IN THE FUTURE. BESIDES THE COLD WEATHER, TWO OTHER FACTORS CAN TAKE A DRAMATIC TOLL ON THE CROPPIE'S POPULATION.
Allen: "One of the things effecting young fish survival can be food availability, zooplankton which are microscopic shrimp-like organisms in the water. A number of fish use zooplankton in early life so there can be competition between fishes. So thatŐs one factor. Another factor is water levels." (:19)
VO: THE ENTIRE FRESHWATER SPORTS FISHING INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS TO FLORIDA'S ECONOMY AND UF EXPERTS SAY THE BLACK CROPPIE IS A LARGE PART OF THAT. IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA...I'M LINDA KUBITZ REPORTING.