2004 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Depredation by bird species, in addition to causing direct losses to the fish producer, is estimated to cost producers approximately $17,200 per operation/year, or approximately $17 million nationwide. Developing adaptive management strategies that will minimize depredation should significantly reduce the cost of production and improve the health of cultured species without deleterious effects on wildlife species or their associated habitats. Piscivorous birds (especially double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans, egrets, herons, anhingas, storks, and diving ducks) and other vertebrate predators (notably mammals, turtles, and snakes) can cause significant direct and indirect losses to the aquaculture industry. In the 1996 and 2004 national survey of catfish producers, depredation by great blue herons and cormorants was the most commonly cited wildlife problem; 77% of Mississippi producers, 66% of Arkansas producers, and 50% of Alabama producers cited losses due only to cormorants. Catfish losses to double-crested cormorants (referred to as cormorants hereafter), one of six cormorant species breeding in North America, have been well documented. Losses due to cormorants have been estimated at $3.3 million within the Mississippi catfish industry alone, which is equivalent to 4% of the fingerling class fish. Additionally, many of the infectious diseases in fish have bird vectors (carriers) that contribute to an estimated $71.4 million loss to the industry. These losses have been exacerbated in recent years by the doubling of wintering cormorant numbers and an increase in other fish-eating birds within the aquaculture production areas. Economic losses due to fish-eating birds are also increasing farm costs and reducing net returns. Fish farmers are limited to nonlethal harassment methods and limited lethal removal methods of cormorants, pelicans, and other migratory birds because these species are protected by federal laws (e.g., the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 1936, 1972) and regulated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Additionally, birds that inhabit fish culture ponds are also vectors for several types of parasitic diseases that can greatly affect profits of fish farmers. Tapeworm and trematode infestations in some propagated fish are major disease problems. Minimizing digenetic trematodes and associated diseases can be attained by preventing birds from landing in fishponds since the trematodes must pass through a bird. Pragmatically, our current knowledge of these predators is inadequate to develop effective integrated management strategies to minimize depredation on aquaculture. The lack of basic information and adaptive management strategies minimizing the interactions between single species or multiple predator species within aquaculture areas has hampered the development of improved management. Specifically, little or no information is available on understanding migratory and nonmigratory bird movements, demographics, or the behavior of these bird species. Thus, basic and applied studies on management techniques, evaluation of management efforts while knowing the numbers of predators present, and spatial and temporal relationships are critically needed. There are three broad objectives in our efforts at resolving the bird depredation problem. (1) To develop techniques, or devices, that will non-lethally exclude fish-eating birds from aquaculture ponds. (2) To collect, maintain, and disseminate data about the number of cormorants and other fish-eating birds wintering within the aquaculture region of Arkansas. And (3) to understand the biological parameters of spatio-temporal patterns in bird behavior and management. This research coincides with target areas in Component 7 of the "Aquaculture Production Systems" (NP106). Specifically, this project focuses exclusively on all components of Part D (Predator and Fowl Control). Attaining these objectives will provide benefits to aquaculturalists, fish health providers, Extension Service personnel, scientists at universities, state, and federal agencies, and ultimately, the public, that will result in increased farmer profitability by reducing economic losses caused by fish-eating birds. Specifically, producers of any cultured aquaculture species (catfish, baitfish, tilapia, hybrid striped bass, crawfish, shrimp, etc.) and in any system (ponds, cages, water-reuse systems, etc.) will benefit. Scientists and policymakers will benefit from basic knowledge of adaptive management strategies to minimize depredation and the factors influencing the current standing depredation order and national management plan for cormorants. Consumers demanding safe and wholesome fish products free of diseases vectored by birds and other potential predators will benefit. State and federal agencies (Extension, Regulatory and Natural Resource Departments; United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services (USDA/APHIS/WS), U.S. Department of Interior branches of Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Geological Survey (USGS) will benefit greatly through enhanced understanding of intra- and interspecific predator interactions. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. This is a bridging project, and has not undergone peer review. A new project plan, "Development of Strategies to Minimize the Impact of Bird Predation on Aquaculture", has been submitted to the Office of Scientific Quality Review for peer review as to technical quality and relevance to National Program 106 - Aquaculture. The following project milestones include the bridging project and those anticipated as being included in the new project: Bridging Project: (FY 2004) Developed techniques that will non-lethally exclude fish-eating birds from aquaculture ponds. Collected, maintained, and disseminated data about the number of cormorants and other fish-eating birds wintering near aquaculture. Anticipated Milestones From New Project Currently Under Peer Review: Year 1 (FY 2005) Determine if avian predators are selecting aquaculture ponds that have a particular water quality trait; such as a particular reflective color on ponds. Demonstrate effectiveness of physical barrier system and deviations of applied design from catfish ponds and apply to baitfish ponds. Collect birds for fatty acid analysis and recover prey remains from various fishponds and natural ecosystems. Compare physical barrier treatment with an alternative technique; i.e., water dye or Scarebots (pending LSU Agreement). Year 2 (FY 2006) Compare integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. Initiate comparison study on integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. Continuation and assessment of numbers of fish-eating birds within aquaculture producing areas in southeastern Arkansas via aerial surveys as the national cormorant plan is implemented. Initiate study to determine fidelity and spatio-temporal use of roost sites in southeastern Arkansas. Year 3 (FY 2007) Initiate a comparison studies on integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. Continuation and assessment of numbers of fish-eating birds within aquaculture producing areas in southeastern Arkansas via aerial surveys as the national cormorant plan is implemented. Initiate a 3-year study to determine fidelity and spatio-temporal use of roost sites in southeastern Arkansas. Year 4 (FY 2008) Continuation of a 3-year comparison study on integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine the effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. Continuation and assessment of numbers of fish-eating birds within aquaculture producing areas in southeastern Arkansas via aerial surveys as the national cormorant plan is implemented. Continuation of the study to determine fidelity and spatio-temporal use of roost sites in southeastern Arkansas using radio- and GPS satellite transmitters. Year 5 (FY 2009) Completion of a 3-year comparison study on integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine the effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. Completion and assessment of numbers of fish-eating birds within aquaculture producing areas in southeastern Arkansas via aerial surveys as the national cormorant plan is implemented. Completion of the study to determine fidelity and spatio-temporal use of roost sites in southeastern Arkansas using radio- and GPS satellite transmitters. 3.Milestones: A. List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY2004. The following milestones were scheduled to be completed under the bridging project during FY2004: Developed techniques that will non-lethally exclude fish-eating birds from aquaculture ponds. This milestone has been completed. Collected, maintained, and disseminated data about the number of cormorants and other fish-eating birds wintering near aquaculture. This milestone has been completed. B. List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? Anticipated milestones from new project currently under peer review: Year 1 (FY 2005) Determine if fish-eating birds, especially double-crested cormorants, are selecting aquaculture ponds that have a particular water quality trait; such as a particular reflective color on ponds. These results will be used to assist fish farmers with management strategies, or at least allow the fish farmer to predict which ponds will probably be problematic for depredation by birds so that stocking strategies can be developed. Demonstrate effectiveness of physical barrier system and deviations of applied design from catfish ponds and apply to baitfish ponds. These results will be used to assist fish farmers with an additional technique to implement within their integral pest management plan. Collect birds for fatty acid analysis and recover prey remains from various fishponds and natural ecosystems. These results will be used to allow regulatory and management agencies to prioritize management strategies at the local and regional level. Specifically, if a high percentage of the birds within the roost have fatty acid profiles unique to foraging on farm raised fish, then those roost sites could be selected as high priority sites to manage. Compare physical barrier treatment with an alternative technique; i.e., water dye or Scare bots (pending LSU Agreement). These results will be used to allow fish farmers to decide on the best management practice based on economic factors for their specific farm. Year 2 (FY 2006) Compare commonly used integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. These results will be used to allow fish farmers to decide on the best management practice based on economic factors for their specific farm. Initiate a comparison study on newly devised integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. These results will be used to allow fish farmers to decide on the best management practice based on a comparison of older techniques. Continuation and assessment of numbers of fish-eating birds within aquaculture producing areas in southeastern Arkansas via aerial surveys as the national cormorant plan is implemented. These results will be used to assist regulatory agencies on needed modifications to the national plan. Initiate study to determine fidelity and spatio-temporal use of roost sites in southeastern Arkansas. These results will be used to assist regulatory and management agencies to prioritize management efforts based on specific times and locations. Year 3 (FY 2007) Initiate a comparison studies on integrated management techniques at fishponds to determine effectiveness at a various spatial and temporal scales. These results will be used to allow fish farmers to decide on the best management practice based on a comparison of older techniques. Initiate the post-management assessment of numbers of fish-eating birds within aquaculture producing areas in southeastern Arkansas via aerial surveys. These results will specifically address the affects of the implemented national cormorant plan. Findings from this research will be used to assist policy makers on the effectiveness of ongoing management strategies as it relates to bird numbers at and near aquaculture areas. Initiate a 3-year study to determine fidelity and spatio-temporal use of roost sites in southeastern Arkansas. These results will be used to assist regulatory and management agencies to prioritize management efforts based on specific times and locations. 4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Most significant accomplishments during FY2004. Modified technique that will non-lethally exclude fish-eating birds from aquaculture ponds. Using two privately owned, commercial catfish farms within a few miles of the largest roosting colony of double-crested cormorants, we evaluated the effectiveness of modifying a low-cost, physical barrier system for deterring cormorants. The modification limited the materials, setup time, and overall cost significantly and yielded similar significant results for limiting cormorant access to aquaculture ponds by 4 to 10 fold, prevented other fish-eating birds from landing at similar rates to complete exclusion at some ponds, and limited the duration cormorants stayed on ponds. The modification involved changing our previously researched technique using a simple barrier of twine, flagging and t-posts. This relatively economical, nonlethal method has gained industry support with at least 10 major catfish farms now employing this approach to greatly reduce losses of cultured fish by double-crested cormorants and other fish-eating birds. B. Other significant accomplishments. Collected, maintained, and disseminated data about the number of cormorants and other fish-eating birds wintering near aquaculture. Completion of baseline numbers of double-crested cormorant, American white pelican, and other fish-eating bird within the catfish production regions of southeastern Arkansas occurred this year. Aerial surveys from fixed wing aircraft were conducted during the winter months to quantify double-crested cormorant, American white pelican, and other fish-eating bird numbers and to qualify trends of roosting locations during the winter months. Comparable trends in cormorant numbers, movements, and duration of use at roosting sites within catfish-producing regions of southeastern Arkansas occurred over the past four years. This information documented that bird numbers and numbers of roost sites are quite constant with some variability in the time of year certain roosts are used. This is important baseline information that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will need to assess the national cormorant management plan. C. Significant activities that support special target populations. Accomplishments directly support economic development of people in the Mississippi Delta, a special target population. The economic value of fish production greatly benefits the rural areas of the Delta regions of the southeastern U.S. that are characterized by high unemployment, low income and economic stagnation. Commercial fish farming has a significant impact on the economy of the Delta region of the U.S. and has a potential for growth that far exceeds its present economic importance. While fish farming provides jobs to farm workers, its major impact to rural populations is jobs creation in numerous collateral industries such as aquaculture equipment manufacturing, feed mill operations, processing and transportation. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This is a bridging project that supersedes the previous project "YEAR-ROUND PRODUCTION OF HYBRID STRIPED BASS AND CONTROL OF BIRD PREDATION & TREMATODES IN FISH" CRIS # 6225-31630-003-00D. The previous project, established in FY 1999, was new and did not build on earlier projects. Major accomplishments of the previous project include ameliorating depredation issues by diving ducks, herons, and egrets at baitfish ponds and assessing cormorant numbers in southeastern Arkansas. These findings were important accomplishments for Component 7 of the "Aquaculture Production Systems" (NP106). Specifically, this project focuses exclusively on all components of Part D (Predator and Fowl Control). Specific findings provided improved management strategies for limiting fish-eating birds at baitfish facilities and increased our knowledge of bird numbers at catfish production facilities. Accomplishments of the previous project documented fish-eating bird numbers and numbers of roost sites were relatively constant, but there was a temporal effect on roost use. This is important information that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has requested and requires to formulate a national cormorant management plan. Now that the USFWS has initiated a national cormorant management plan, our data on cormorant numbers and movements at fish farms will be important to assess changes on depredation impacts within the aquaculture production area of southeastern Arkansas. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Project goals and research findings and technologies were presented to scientists, aquaculture farmers, educators, college students, and the general public during FY 2004. Oral presentations (technical and non technical) and poster presentations were made at local, state, national, and international meetings. Research findings were presented at national, regional, and state conferences including: Annual meetings of the World Aquaculture Society, American Chapter, Honolulu, HI; The Wildlife Society, Burlington, VT; American Ornithological Union, LaCrosse, WI; Catfish Farmers of Arkansas, Hot Springs, AR; and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Field Day, Pine Bluff, AR. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. Popular Press: Radomski, A.A., Collins, C.M., Kinkaid, W.C., Freeman, D.F. 2003. Quarterly article for the Catfish Farmers of Arkansas Newsletter. Catfish Channel. v. 43. p. 4. Review Publications Fenech, A.S., Lochmann, S.E., Radomski, A.A. 2004. Seasonal diets of male and female double-crested cormorants from an oxbow lake in Arkansas. Waterbird. p. 170-176. Radomski, A.A., Collins, C.M., Freeman, D.W. 2004. Minimizing use of aquaculture ponds by double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and other fish-eating birds. In: Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings. p. 71-78. Radomski, A.A. 2004. More than just counting birds: building the necessary avain database around aquaculture facilities [abstract]. In: Aquaculture America Conference. p. 486. Radomski, A.A., Freeman, D.W. 2003. Monitoring double-crested cormorants on a prior need to assess a national management plan [abstract]. In: Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. 43:4. Radomski, A.A. 2003. USDA-ARS avian research - past, present. and future [abstract]. Inland Bird Banding Meeting Abstracts. p. 3. Radomski, A.A. 2003. Lacking scientific data for double-crested cormorants - the need to revitalize a banding program [abstract]. Inland Bird Banding Meeting Abstracts. p. 3.