At The Fisheries Blog, it’s easy for us to see fish in everything we do – fish are our careers, our pastimes, our life! But, every once in a while, we like to remind you that fish are in everything YOU do, too! You might be surprised how frequently fish make an appearance this holiday…
Category: Fun Fish Fodder
I’ll have the jellyfish…
“I’ll have the jellyfish!” might be a phrase heard more often as this seafood item gains popularity with chefs and takes a place on more menus. As we fish throughout the food web, eco-minded consumers are looking for and demanding options that are more sustainable and are mindful of varying impacts of the fisheries on…
Fish or Treat: 6 Halloween Inspired Fish
Illustrated by Hannah Dean; Written by Patrick Cooney In October of last year we brought you fish that inspired scary Halloween costumes. This year we bring you a new gang of ghastly fish with Halloween inspired names. Vampire Fish Vampire fish have massive 6 inch fangs used to impale fish. Although vampire fish have a Transylvania inspired name,…
What creature defies science, carries your money, cleans the ocean, and produces buckets of slime?
By Patrick Cooney Take a look at a hagfish and see if you can find a single redeeming quality? You couldn’t find a redeeming quality, could you? I don’t blame you. Besides looking a little like the racing snail from The NeverEnding Story, the darn thing doesn’t seem to offer much. However, the little buggers…
Why are fish cold blooded?
A pretty simple question, right? But the answer may be a bit more complicated than you think. First, we have to specify what exactly it means to be “cold blooded” with a few definitions. We’ll start with the terms, endothermic and ectothermic. I’m sure you’ve got these down pat, as they probably were drilled into…
Top 10 Books About Fish
By Patrick Cooney Every week in 1st grade, we made the march to the library to check out a book. One week, I harmlessly checked out a book about fish identification. Little did I know that it would be the start of my journey to becoming a fisheries scientist.I can still smell the freshly dried glue…
Thank You Jaws! The Upside for Sharks 40 Years Later
By: Tobey Curtis, guest blogger When Jaws hit theaters 40 years ago this week, it changed everything for sharks. Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of Peter Benchley’s monster shark novel is now so iconic that it requires no introduction. The thrumming, two-note cello riff can still send shivers down your spine even if someone starts humming…
Fishackathon
When reading the news this weekend I came across something pretty cool. I wasn’t even looking for fish-related news, but I couldn’t resist. What I found was something called ‘Fishackathon.’ Here is the website, and here is the release from the US Department of State announcing what it is, and how Fishackathon is held. So what the…
Did animators know that two of three “Finding Nemo” sharks cannibalized their own siblings?
By Patrick Cooney, Certified Fisheries Scientist Finding Nemo is riddled with biological inaccuracies, including one that we previously explained: Nemo’s dad, Marlin, should have become a female (Marlene?) who mates with her own son, Nemo. Despite the animators missing an opportunity for an incredible biological plot twist, perhaps they were biologically accurate when making sharks Bruce, Chum, and Anchor feel…
Ten things more likely than a shark attack
While shark phobias are widespread, actual shark attacks are very rare.
The Prolific Life of Barton Evermann
Anyone who’s studied fisheries science will have seen the name “Barton Evermann.” He was a full-fledged member of the gilded age of American ichthyology and created a greater good working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ancestral U.S. Fish Commission. Barton Evermann was born in Iowa in 1853, and came of age on an…
My Goodness…there are dead fish parts in every pint of Guinness? (Seriously!)
By Patrick Cooney Are you planning to enjoy a delicious Guinness or Harp beer this St. Patrick’s Day? Then be prepared to swallow bits of dead fish (seriously!). I am currently sitting in Chicago as the river is dyed green for what I once believed was my rightful Birthday…St. Patrick’s Day. Just as I was once…
Aging Sea Monsters
By Steve Midway Many of you may remember back in October 2013 a giant oarfish was spotted just off of a beach on Catalina Island, California. Despite being one of the largest fish in the sea, giant oarfish remain one of the most elusive. And so when one finds its way to shore, it’s not…
I Am A Fisheries Biologist
So what are these crazy unrealistic fisheries biologists up to? They are working with the United Nations and non-fisheries folks to help provide food for a growing global population.
Raw Salmon Linked to Death In Dogs
By Patrick Cooney Knowledge of two simple things could make the difference in the life of your dog: Know the geographic region where your salmon was harvested. Do not feed raw or undercooked salmon to your dog. Can salmon kill my dog? Consumption by dogs of raw or undercooked salmon from California, Oregon, and Washington…
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