Inland fish are found in lakes, rivers, streams, canals, reservoirs, and other landlocked waters. Although these landlocked waters make up only 0.01% of total water on the planet, they provide over 40% of finfish production. Due to their close proximity with people, inland fish are vulnerable to a range of threats, including overharvesting, invasive species, pollution, and global change.
Scientists with the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC) are investigating how climate-related changes, such as droughts and warming waters, impact inland fish. USGS scientists and AFS Executive Director, Doug Austen, explained that as these extreme events increase in frequency and severity, they will have significant ecological consequences for inland fisheries and social implications for communities that rely on recreational fishing as an important economic driver.
As part of the roundtable, Doug Beard, acting director for the USGS Land Resources Mission Area (formerly Climate and Land Use), discussed how the important fisheries research NCASC and other USGS scientists are doing across the country equips natural resource professionals with information and tools to more effectively manage fisheries in the face of changing ecosystems.
To learn more about how USGS and its scientists are working on these issues, visit AFS AND USGS HOST CAPITOL HILL ROUNDTABLE ON EXTREME EVENTS or USGS and AFS Host Capitol Hill Roundtable on Extreme Events.