Jim Habera Named TWRA Fisheries Biologist of the Year

NASHVILLE --- Jim Habera has been named the 2009 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fisheries Biologist of the Year. Habera is a Region IV Wildlife Biologist with the streams crew out of the Morristown office and resides in Jefferson City.

 

Habera’s duties as part of the Region IV stream crew includes the collection of data on cold water resources, as well as planning, coordinating, and conducting regional (and some statewide) trout research projects. He is also responsible for data analysis and preparation of annual reports, and is instrumental in making management decisions and developing management strategies that affect all Region IV trout resources.

 

Along with his numerous duties and responsibilities, Habera has been very active in the American Fisheries Society (AFS) Southern Division Trout Committee and its projects. The results of his efforts, in conjunction with the committee, include updating the sampling guidelines for trout streams and issues involving electrofishing injury and mortality. The outcomes of these efforts benefit not only Tennessee’s trout resources, but also trout resources for the southeast and trout in general.

 

As a research associate for the University of Tennessee and more recently with TWRA, Habera has authored or co-authored numerous scientific papers on wild trout resources. These include wild trout distribution, brook trout genetic distribution, trout age and growth, and electrofishing issues. While working for the agency, he has also been instrumental in completion of two University of Tennessee master degree projects that resulted in greater knowledge and understanding of Tennessee’s wild rainbow trout age and growth. Habera has also been instrumental in developing management plans for the Region IV trout tailwaters and helped to develop the statewide trout management plan.

 

Habera has made numerous presentations to state and local fishing clubs and groups (primarily Trout Unlimited) explaining the agency’s standing on management issues and procedures on various trout topics. He has represented the agency at various national meetings and workshops. He has made presentations at the East Coast Trout Workshop.

 

Habera has also been involved in the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, a group comprised of state and federal fish and wildlife agencies from 17 states, conservation organizations, and academic institutions, a group in partnership to conserve brook trout. This group recently produced a publication covering the status and threats of the eastern brook trout. Habera was able to represent the agency in providing information for the Tennessee portion of the publication.

---TWRA---