Status Assessment of Burbot in Montana: Importance of a Standardized Sampling Protocol

Abstract

Burbot (Lota Iota) are widely distributed throughout Montana and are found in the Kootenai, Missouri, and Saskatchewan drainages within the state. However, little is known about their status. Anecdotal infonnation from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and USDA Forest Service (USFS) fisheries biologists as well as licensed Montana anglers indicated a potential decline in burbot abundance in some populations. Surrounding states and provinces reported similar declines and even cases of near extirpation. To address concerns regarding burbot in Montana, we assessed their status by comparing statewide historic and current distributions of burbot and evaluating population characteristics, e.g., relative abundance, size structure, condition, from published and unpublished FWP and USFS data Burbot have been sampled using a variety of gears although most sampling effort targeted other species, i.e., rainbow and brown trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss and Salmo trutta), sauger (Sander canadensis), walleye (Sander vitreus) and sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus spp.) Unfortunately, status assessment of individual populations was difficult due to low sample sizes, inconsistent and non-targeted sampling efforts, and missing infonnation, e.g , gear effort, fish lengths and weights. Undoubtedly, statewide tandardized sampling protocols would facilitate a more precise assessment of Montana's burbot population. To that end, we recommend initial sampling efforts for burbot ≥ 450 mm total length use spnngtime hoop net sets in both lotic and lentic systems. Further, we encourage testing cod traps m lentic systems and slat traps in lotic and lentic systems to determine if these gears offer more effective sampling among a variety of sizes of burbot than hoop nets.