why do i need a license to put catfish into my lake?

Answer 1

your catfish may throw off the ecosystem of the lake due to no natural predators. Is ALL of the lake yours?

Answer 2

First reason for the license (I am assuming you mean a native catfish): money to the county/state.

Second reason: when you stock a lake or pond you create a fishing pond and that needs a license (money again)

third: all of the ecosystem stuff mentioned above, although one catfish shouldn't hurt an ecosystem, but several would.

Also the place you get the fish from would need the license that allows them to sell fish.

Answer 3

In Arkansas, You don't need a license to purchase catfish from an independant dealer, to place in your private pond. You do, however, need one if you are buying the fish from the Game and Fish Commission, or are catching the fish and stocking your pond from State maintained lakes or streams. You may fish on a private lake, but not without a license. All wildlife are owned by the G&FC regardless if you purchase the animals or not.

Answer 4

f the catfish is not native species, you could be endangering the ecosystem by endangering the species in the lake, and any body of water nearby, if they happen to escape your lake by a flood, or if somebody catches them, and takes them to another body of water, which is also illegal I believe. Right now they are worried about a jumping Carp, which was introduced by accident into the Mississippi River. Motorboats freak them out, and they jump out of the water, as the boat goes by, sometimes striking people in the boat, causing injury as they grow very large. Because they breed so prolifically, they wipe out native species, and are working their way up the river toward the Great Lakes. If they get in there they will decimate the fish population. So far, they can not stop them.

Answer 5

Because if the catfish is a non-native species it can take over and become an invasive pest that may wipe out native populations of other animals, effectively screwing over the ecosystem. It is also easy to introduce disease by dumping fish and or tank water into another body of water.

Think of the snakehead problem a few years ago. Now snakeheads are illegal in all 50 states because of some idiot who let his go.

Answer 6

Because your lake is part of the broader environmental, might impact other areas, and the license gives you the authority to do so, as well as creates a record of who may alter the fish population. We never have full control of our property.

Answer 7

Catfish grow to the size oif their environment if i got it right. it might end up taking over the lake i suppose and affect the ecology of the lake i suppose?

Answer 8

Ok some of you have some really funny answers lmao
But mine may be crazy too
Ummm theres no law saying you cant buy catfish
And if the lakes ALL yours who the H#@@ would freaking know you put the cats in there??????????

Answer 9

you should;nt need a license if your lake is private also no fishing license is needed for any private water in texas so ask your local game warden your state may be different

Answer 10

its so they can keep a check on what waters contain them in case a river breaks its banks and floods into that pond.the last thing they want is catfish escaping into our rivers and wiping out the natural species and wild life. its managing our waters,something they never did when they introduced carp , rabbits and goats to australia for example.