REVIEW The social, economic, and environmental importance of inland fish and fisheries

Abstract: Though reported capture fisheries are dominated by marine production, inland fish and fisheries make substantial contributions to meeting the challenges faced by individuals, society, and the environment in a changing global landscape. Inland capture fisheries and aquaculture contribute over 40% to the world's reported finfish production from less than 0.01% of the total volume of water on earth. These fisheries provide food for billions and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. Herein, using supporting evidence from the literature, we review 10 reasons why inland fish and fisheries are important to the individual (food security, economic security, empowerment), to society (cultural services, recreational services, human health and well-being, knowledge transfer and capacity building), and to the environment (ecosystem function and biodiversity, as aquatic "canaries", the "green food" movement). However, the current limitations to valuing the services provided by inland fish and fisheries make comparison with other water resource users extremely difficult. This list can serve to demonstrate the importance of inland fish and fisheries, a necessary first step to better incorporating them into agriculture, land-use, and water resource planning, where they are currently often underappreciated or ignored. Key words: food security, freshwater ecosystems, importance of fish, inland fisheries. Résumé : Bien que la capture de poissons rapportée par les pêcheries soit dominée par la production marine, les poissons et les pêcheries de l'intérieur des terres apportent des contributions substantielles pour rencontrer les défis rencontrés par les individus, les sociétés et l'environnement dans un paysage en changement global. Les captures des pêcheries de l'intérieur et l'aquaculture contribuent à la hauteur de 40 % à la production mondiale rapportée pour les poissons à nageoires, à partir de moins de 0,01 % du volume total de l'eau sur terre. Ces pêcheries fournissent de la nourriture pour des milliards et un moyen de subsistance pour des millions de gens, partout au monde. Dans cette revue, en utilisant des preuves venant de la littérature, les auteurs examinent 10 raisons pour lesquelles, les pêcheries et les poissons de l'intérieur sont importants pour les individus (sécurité alimentaire, sécurité économique, l'autonomisation), pour la société (services culturels, services récréatifs, santé humaine et bien-être, transfert de connaissances et capacité à construire) et pour l'environnement (fonction écosystémique et biodiversité, comme « canaris » aquatiques, pour le mouvement « aliments verts »). Cependant, les limitations actuelles pour évaluer les services fournis par les poissons et les pêcheries intérieures rendent les comparaisons avec les autres utilisateurs de la ressource en eau extrêmement difficile. Cette liste peut servir à démontrer l'importance des poissons et des pêcheries de l'intérieur, une première étape essentielle pour mieux les incorporer avec l'agriculture, l'utilisation du territoire et la planification des ressources en eau, où elles sont actuellement sous-estimées, voire totalement ignorées. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : sécurité alimentaire, écosystèmes d'eau douce, importance des poissons, pêcheries de l'intérieur

Development of a GIS Model to Predict Muskellunge Spawning Habitat in Northern Wisconsin Lakes

This study determined the habitat preferences of spawning muskellunge in northern Wisconsin lakes and used these preferences to create two GIS-based models that predict the location of muskellunge spawning habitat. This information will enable efficient conservation of muskellunge spawning habitat, which has been implicated in declining natural reproduction. Muskellunge spawning sites were identified using spotlighting surveys and verified by the presence of muskellunge eggs. Aquatic vegetation and substrate maps were created using visual surveys to determine habitat preference and train the models. Vegetation was categorized structurally, and muskellunge preferred to spawn over emergent sedges and rushes as well as submersed short grasses and mat-forming vegetation. Muskellunge preferred sand, cobble, and coarse benthic organic matter substrates, areas with high potential groundwater flow, and areas adjacent to wetlands. Moderate to steep slopes were preferred for spawning, as were locations near bays and points. While shorelines facing east to north-east and south to south-west were slightly preferred, the biological connection to this pattern is likely tenuous. Muskellunge Spawning Habitat Models (MSHM) 1 and 2 were created using the Maxent modeling program. The models utilized the difference between characteristics of spawning sites and available habitat to assign probabilities of spawning across each variable. These probabilities were in general agreement with the spawning habitat preferences documented in this and other studies. While MSHM1 uses only data which can be obtained remotely in Wisconsin, MSHM2 utilizes low-cost habitat surveys to slightly improve model performance. MSHM1 and MSHM2 were tested by withholding 25% of the spawning sites from model training for testing. Both models performed significantly better than random at predicting spawning locations using a binomial test, and the area under the curve analyses are evidence that each model possesses reasonable efficiency. The models assign a probability of muskellunge spawning to cells in a raster grid, and these values can be used to rank the best spawning habitat in each lake. For example, using either MSHM1 or MSHM2, a manager could identify the best 10% of available habitat and protect approximately half of the muskellunge spawning sites. MSHM2, which includes variables from habitat surveys, appears to outperform MSHM1 in identifying the top 10% of available habitat. The muskellunge spawning habitat preferences identified by this study can inform habitat conservation and restoration. The spawning habitat models identify the locations of likely spawning habitat, allowing managers to efficiently protect these critical areas from the removal of vegetation and woody debris which muskellunge preferred for spawning.Master of ScienceSchool of Natural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62090/1/NohnerThesis2009.pd

Muskellunge Spawning Site Selection in Northern Wisconsin Lakes and a GIS-Based Predictive Habitat Model

<div><p></p><p>Spawning habitat degradation has been linked to declines in naturally reproducing Muskellunge <i>Esox masquinongy</i> populations, and managers require efficient methods to identify and protect these habitats. We collected spawning habitat data from 28 lakes in northern Wisconsin to determine Muskellunge spawning habitat selection and to create a GIS-based model for predicting the locations of spawning sites. Spawning site selection by Muskellunge may be more complex than previously thought. Muskellunge showed selection for spawning in habitats with a sheltered effective fetch and east-facing shorelines. The strongest selection was for habitats with a combination of moderate slope, small flats, and concave bathymetric curvature. Muskellunge selected against steeply sloping shorelines; very large areas of shallow flats; developed shorelines; herbaceous wetlands; and complex-leafed submersed aquatic vegetation. Lake trophic status appears to interact with other habit variables to determine spawning site selection; sites without submersed aquatic vegetation were more strongly selected in eutrophic lakes than in other lake types. A GIS model of spawning site selection was created using the machine learning program MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy Modeling). The model predicted that Muskellunge would spawn in areas with moderately sheltered effective fetches, moderate to small areas of shallow flats, away from outflowing streams, and (to a lesser extent) along shorelines facing east or west. The model was tested on novel lakes using area-under-the-curve (AUC) analysis, in which values ranged from 0.5 (predictions no better than random) to 1.0 (perfect assignment). The mean AUC<i>_test</i> value (i.e., the expectation of model performance for a novel lake) was 0.637 (SD = 0.12). When the model was used to designate the best 20% of available spawning habitat area for Muskellunge in each lake (based on the relative probability of spawning), that area contained 32% of the spawning sites. The model provides an efficient method for management agencies and conservation groups to use in designating spawning habitat for conservation and in communicating with the public through spawning habitat maps.</p><p>Received January 26, 2014; accepted October 7, 2014</p></div

The social, economic, and environmental importance of inland fish and fisheries

Though reported capture fisheries are dominated by marine production, inland fish and fisheries make substantial contributions to meeting the challenges faced by individuals, society, and the environment in a changing global landscape. Inland capture fisheries and aquaculture contribute over 40% to the world’s reported finfish production from less than 0.01% of the total volume of water on earth. These fisheries provide food for billions and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. Herein, using supporting evidence from the literature, we review ten reasons why inland fish and fisheries are important to the individual (food security; economic security; empowerment), to society (cultural services; recreational services; human health and well-being; knowledge transfer and capacity building) and to the environment (ecosystem function and biodiversity; as aquatic “canaries”; the “green food” movement). However, the current limitations to valuing the services provided by inland fish and fisheries make comparison with other water resource users extremely difficult. This list can serve to demonstrate the importance of inland fish and fisheries, a necessary first step to better incorporating them into agriculture, land-use, and water resource planning, where they are currently often underappreciated or ignored.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Grand Challenges in the Management and Conservation of North American Inland Fishes and Fisheries

Even with long-standing management and extensive science support, North American inland fish and fisheries still face many conservation and management challenges. We used a grand challenges approach to identify critical roadblocks that if removed would help solve important problems in the management and long-term conservation of North American inland fish and fisheries. We identified seven grand challenges within three themes (valuation, governance, and externalities) and 34 research needs and management actions. The major themes identified are to (1) raise awareness of diverse values associated with inland fish and fisheries, (2) govern inland fish and fisheries to satisfy multiple use and conservation objectives, and (3) ensure productive inland fisheries given nonfishing sector externalities. Addressing these grand challenges will help the broader community understand the diverse values of inland fish and fisheries, promot e open forums for engagement of diverse stakeholders in fisheries management, and better integrate the inland fish sector into the greater water and land use policy process

Grand Challenges in the Management and Conservation of North American Inland Fishes and Fisheries

Even with long-standing management and extensive science support, North American inland fish and fisheries still face many conservation and management challenges. We used a grand challenges approach to identify critical roadblocks that if removed would help solve important problems in the management and long-term conservation of North American inland fish and fisheries. We identified seven grand challenges within three themes (valuation, governance, and externalities) and 34 research needs and management actions. The major themes identified are to (1) raise awareness of diverse values associated with inland fish and fisheries, (2) govern inland fish and fisheries to satisfy multiple use and conservation objectives, and (3) ensure productive inland fisheries given nonfishing sector externalities. Addressing these grand challenges will help the broader community understand the diverse values of inland fish and fisheries, promote open forums for engagement of diverse stakeholders in fisheries management, and better integrate the inland fish sector into the greater water and land use policy process