A Field Manual for the Use of Antimycin A for Restoration of Native Fish Populations

​Abstract

Publication: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), Natural Resource Program Center

This 2008 manual, published by the National Park Service (NPS), provides detailed guidance for the use of Antimycin A (Fintrol®) to remove non-native fish and restore native fish populations in streams, ponds, and small lakes (<50 ha). Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the manual outlines regulatory compliance, environmental safety, application techniques, and project documentation standards.

Antimycin A is a restricted-use pesticide effective for selective or complete fish kills and degrades quickly in warm, alkaline water. The manual offers both Administrative and Technical Operating Procedures to guide fisheries managers through every stage of a restoration project—from planning and public involvement to field operations, safety training, treatment application, and post-treatment monitoring.

The document emphasizes legal compliance with the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and FIFRA, and promotes integrated pest management approaches. Appendices include templates for project plans, safety checklists, toxicity data, and monitoring protocols.

Designed to minimize human and environmental risks, this manual serves as the national standard for Antimycin A applications in federal fish restoration projects, ensuring consistency, ecological safety, and compliance with state and federal regulations.