Native Trout
While NMTU is concerned with all our fisheries in New Mexico, we have focused our efforts on our two remaining native trout, the Gila trout, and our state fish the Rio Grande cutthroat. The reason for this is twofold.
First, for numerous reasons, buth these fish are imperaled. Until 2006, the Gila trout was listed as “endangered” for nearly 40 years. 2007 marked the first time we will be able to fish for Gilas since the 60’s.
As of May 2008, the Rio Grande cutthroat is a candidate species for Endangered Species Act listing, menaing the US Fish & Wildlife Service will list the fish as soon as they can do the paperwork.
The state of New Mexico lists both fishes as “species of highest concern.” The continued
turmoil surrounding these fishes has limited our fishing opportunities, and has the potential for limiting them into the future.
We are commited to working with both the state and federal agencies to complete the
work necessary to secure these trout so that we and our children can continue to fish for them.
Secondly, these fish are pretty unique to our state. We should be proud of these trout as they are part of our fishing heritage.
You can find non-native Brown, Rainbow and Brook trout in the vast majority of watersheds throughout the west. Have fisheries unique to New Mexico offers an economic opportunity few states can offer.
Some of the oldest documentation of native trout in this country is regarding the Rio Grande cutthroat that inhabited Glorieta Creek near Pecos Pueblo. Those fish are long gone, replaced with Brown trout, and we would prefer not to see this same fate befall all our streams.
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