AUTHORS: Joshua Tompkins, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; Matthew Dollenbacher, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
ABSTRACT: Prior to the invasion of bigheaded carps into Kentucky waters’ there was a rich history of commercial fishing. This presentation will be a road map of how Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, developed a robust invasive carp harvest industry by leveraging preexisting commercial infrastructure, recruiting new partners into the process and engaging stakeholders to enact regulations to allow for less restrictive regulations with the aim at reducing invasive carp populations and limiting range expansion. Other aspects of the industry development, economics and public input about the perception of how these programs and initiative have towards successful meeting KDFWR goals, will be highlighted throughout.
