DURHAM, N.H. -- Learn how you personally can help improve our marine fisheries by discussing best handling practices when releasing fish, and find out how anglers on other coasts are improving survival of angler-released fish, at an "Angler:Port" meeting set for June 20, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Rd, Portsmouth, N.H. The meeting is being jointly hosted by NOAA Fisheries Service and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
At the meeting, you will be able to provide your ideas about how to best handle the fish you intend to release to fisheries managers and scientists. Also, learn about the latest techniques, such as recompression devices, that may improve the survival of the deep-water fish you release.
The Port Meeting will demonstrate methods and released devices being use on the west, south Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Some devices will be provided for examination and several interesting videos will be shown on ways to reduce barotrauma effects (the effects on deep water caught fish, that when raised to the surface, have extended gas filled eyes, bladder, and esophagus). These effects will not let them swim back down when released at the surface, and thus cause high release mortality.
You'll also hear about the Fish Smart and Best Practices programs, which are angling community programs to understand and enhance fish release survival, promote careful release, and implement best release practices.
Directions to the Urban Forestry Center: From I-95, take Exit 5 to the Portsmouth Traffic Circle. From the Circle, take Rte. 1 Bypass south. This will merge into Rte. 1 South. Proceed about 2 miles through a series of five lights. At the next set of lights you should be in the left turn only lane. Turn left onto Elwyn Road. Take the first left turn into the Urban Forestry Center road to the parking lot.
Taken from the NH Fish and Game Website
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