Bug hunter and Senior Scientist for CalTrout, Jacob Katz was featured recently in Eating Well magazine for his work on the Nigiri Project, working with Central Valley rice farmers to flood their fields in winter in order to mimic the natural shallow flooding that historically created productive rearing habitats for young fish. When rivers were still connected to our state’s vast floodplains− now diminished by 95% −fish would feast on the bug buffet generated from the shallow flooded area.
From the article: “This conservation endeavor began as a research experiment (dubbed the Nigiri Project, for its sushi-like pairing of rice and salmon) in 2012, pioneered by Carson Jeffres, field and lab director at the University of California, Davis, and then doctoral student Jacob Katz. The study, says Katz, started, “in the corner of a flooded rice field. A 5-acre mud puddle about shin deep.” But the results were astounding: salmon in the flooded rice fields grew larger and faster than fish in the river because the decomposing rice stalks attracted a feast of critters for the baby fish to eat. This is crucial because bigger fish are more likely to return from the ocean to the river to spawn as adults.”
We’re excited to announce that the Nigiri Project has evolved into a new project, officially launched in 2017: Fish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields. Capitol Radio invited Jacob to their show this month to discuss the project. Give it a listen here.
Watch Jacob show us first-hand what he means by “bug buffet”:
Read “There’s Something Fishy Here”, Eating Well, January/February 2018:
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.
1 Comment
Jacob, nice to see the program expand. Can’t wait to see more about the new program, and maybe to begin to get fish return data from previous years.