Fish and Fisheries

How can we manage inland and marine fisheries in a rapidly changing world?

Fishes are critically important components of lake and river ecosystems, and fishing is an important way in which people and aquatic ecosystems are connected. We have numerous research projects focused on both inland and marine fisheries. One focus is on understanding the role of climate change, species interactions, and harvest in the decline of cold- and cool-water fishes, like walleye, in the upper Midwest. Other studies examine the connections between fish populations and aquatic plants. We also use marine stock assessment data to better understand the success of fisheries management and the effects of climate change. Understanding fish requires considering human actions, and so increasingly requires a social-ecological approach.

Recent publications:

Xu, L., Feiner, Z.S., Frater, P., Hansen, G.J.A, Ladwig, R., Paukert, C.P., Verhoeven, M., Wszola, L. and Jensen, O.P. 2024. Asymmetric impacts of climate change on thermal habitat suitability of inland lake fishes. Nature Communications. 15: 10273. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54533-2

Kerkhove, A., Trudeau, A., Jensen, O.P., Isermann, D., Dombrowski, P., Latimer, A., Feiner, Z. Understanding the Role of Recreational Angling Technology in Angler Expectations of Catch, Trip Catch, and Angler Satisfaction. Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.11157

Embke, H.S., A.L. Rypel, S.R. Carpenter, G.G. Sass, D. Ogle, T. Cicosz, J. Hennessy, M.J. Vander Zanden. 2019. Production dynamics reveal hidden overharvest of inland recreational fisheries. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 116 (49): 24676-24681. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1913196116