20 February 2009

I created this website to draw attention to the magnitude and severity of the illegal stocking problem, to educate stakeholders about the issue, to provide a clearinghouse for outreach and other informational resources, and to serve as a virtual meeting place for professionals interested in sharing ideas on curbing illegal stocking.

Illegal stocking is a global phenomenon and yet there appears to be very little cooperation and collaboration among jurisdictions to find ways to stop it. The worldwide web is an ideal medium to inform varied audiences and to facilitate interjurisdictional collaboration. My hope is that this website will increase awareness of the issue and provide agencies with the will and the means to do a better job of preventing illegal stocking in the future.

-Dr. Brett Johnson

 Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology

 Colorado State University

Acknowledgments

Pat Martinez, Colorado Division of Wildlife, provided the motivation to take on this issue.

Craig Amadio, Harry Crockett, Pat Martinez and Darrin Rhea provided helpful comments on a prototype of the website.  I appreciate the assistance of numerous state, provincial and territorial fisheries biologists and law enforcement personnel that provided information on laws and penalties related to illegal stocking.