By: Dana Sackett Ocean acidification, sometimes referred to as “the other carbon dioxide (CO2) problem,” is a major concern for our future marine ecosystems. The rate at which CO2 is taken up by the ocean increases as its concentration increases in our atmosphere, resulting in more acidic ocean water. The resulting decrease in pH can…
Category: Threats to Fisheries
Surrounded by poisons: understanding the problems fish face in today’s aquatic environment
By: Dana Sackett While the old adage “anything can be considered a poison depending on the dose” is true, problem contaminants in the aquatic environment typically cause adverse effects at very low concentrations (on the order of parts per million or even billion). Picture source Aquatic pollutants originate from many everyday products: pesticides, plastics, cooling…
Calling it Quits: When to stop fishing?
Most of us have had a bad day fishing—the fish aren’t biting, the bait isn’t right, or the weatherman got it all wrong. And we each know what our threshold is for willing to make that one last cast. But what motivates someone who is dependent on fishing to give up trying? This is the…
5% of US Freshwater Fish Species Petitioned for Endangered or Threatened Status
Watersheds with 10 or more at-risk fish and mussel species are concentrated in the Southeast, reflecting the extraordinary species diversity of rivers and streams in this region. (Rivers of Life) The dynamic physiographic provinces spanning the Southeastern United States, comprised of mountains, piedmont, and coastal plains, combined with the historic absence of ice sheets…
To interfere or not, that is the question?
By: Dana Sackett We are all familiar with the devastating impacts invasive species can have on aquatic ecosystems. As a result of these adverse impacts, many studies have been dedicated to examining the invasive species problem, including: the process of invasion, predicting which species are likely to become invasive, and the ecological and economic damage…
The Fisheries Blog 