Personnel are working diligently with various government and non-government cooperators on monitoring zebra mussels across the state. With the assistance of the Oklahoma Zebra Mussel Task Force, staff developed an early warning monitoring plan to prevent the spread of zebra mussels throughout Oklahoma. Zebra mussels are found in northern Oklahoma. The Fisheries Resource Office’s primary focus is to prevent zebra mussels from colonizing in the rest of the state. Monitoring for this year began in March and will continue through November.

Data was compiled and entered into a cumulative paddlefish database concerning paddlefish capture and release. Coded wire tags were removed from paddlefish rostra and read under a microscope. The removal and reading of sequential coded wire tags allowed staff to age 49 paddlefish captured this year. The database is essential in managing paddlefish populations in Oklahoma and vital to restoration efforts.