The Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill claimed 11 human lives and countless non-human lives. The infamous spill is just one of several large oil spills in the world’s oceans. Oil spills can have devastating impacts on the ecosystem and surrounding cities that rely on the ocean for food and revenue. According to NOAA, the Deepwater Horizon spill was, far and away, the worst oil spill to date. In 1969, a spill “off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, spilled over four million gallons of oil.” Twenty years later, in 1989, an oil tanker crash in Alaska spilled over 11 million ..read more

September 6th, 2014, a video of a man killing and dumping an undersized muskie on the Detroit River went viral, stirring up an investigation and mobilizing online groups against the man in question. According to the Windsor Star, the video showed Eddie Parent bludgeoning an undersized muskie before throwing it back into the water.  Mike Cowley and Dane Alexander were actually fishing for muskie on the day of the incident and were the two who caught the event on camera. According to Outdoor Canada, the event took place on the 3rd, though the video was uploaded on the 6th. In the ..read more

As reliance on fisheries is on the rise in order to support humanity’s growing population and need for food resources, the sustainability of fisheries has also been called into question. After all, if these resources are supposed to last well into the future, taking care of fisheries is a necessary part of preserving these systems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Fisheries division conducts annual reviews of fisheries and assesses the status of various populations of fish stocks. As of the 2022 report, NOAA Fisheries manages 492 stock or stock complexes i ..read more

For years, water monitoring programs have documented declines in the water quality of mountain streams as a result of climate change and various forms of pollution that contaminate and deteriorate the waterways. Mountain streams were long thought to be pristine, with clear flowing waters and lower pollution rates than lower altitude bodies. Unfortunately, research has found that these streams are no longer as clean as previously thought. What is Contaminating Mountain Streams? A 2021 study published in BioScience assessed data collected over four decades, which revealed that the qual ..read more

Lake Huron’s waters are split between Canada and the United States, and the two countries have contrasting approaches to fish farming on the lake. According to Info Superior, Canada has had net pen aquaculture since 1982 and twelve sites currently operate in Lake Huron, four of which are Indigenous-owned. These fish farms allow managers to rear a host of fish that have a significant impact on the regional economy in terms of jobs and exporting seafood. Seeing the success of aquaculture on the Canadian side has encouraged conversations on the other side of the lake. While fish farming in C ..read more

For decades, hatchery programs on the Great Lakes have provided juvenile fish for stocking and supported a $7 billion fishery industry. This stock is enjoyed by both recreational anglers and commercial operations, which provide fish to the rest of the region. However, recent environmental stressors like invasive aquatic species and algae blooms have led some to question how sustainable the fishery is. According to NPR, concerns led to the proposal of aquaculture programs in the Great Lakes. Aquaculture in the Great Lakes States in the Great Lakes region have reason to be concerned ab ..read more

In 2013, Dr. Xiaobo Tan debuted a high-tech robotic fish named Grace, which stands for “Gliding Robot ACE.” Grace is an updated version of the robofish that came before her. The waterborne contraption developed at Michigan State can move through the water and gather data that allows researchers to examine environmental conditions more closely. Early renditions of the fish were limited in their ability to travel and collect data. However, the 2013 model was able to glide through water practically indefinitely, all while gathering data and measuring water temperature, quality and relevant inform ..read more

Wisconsin walleye are famous throughout the U.S., whether it be the food they provide to restaurants and individuals throughout the country or the tourists that travel there to catch a few for themselves. Fisheries like Lac Du Flambeau throughout the state have been struggling to keep populations consistent. The American Fisheries Society states that these declines may be influenced by a variety of environmental concerns like warming water temperatures, overfishing, habitat loss due to increased development along lake shorelines and interactions with largemouth bass. How the Lac Du F ..read more

Reports of salmon populations declining across North America have dominated news reports over the past few years—and there’s a genuine reason to be concerned about the declines. Not only are salmon a major food source for local communities, but they also are part of a rich cultural history. The decline in salmon population affects more than just human populations; salmon are a keystone species, meaning that the loss or significant decline of the species would drastically impact the ecosystem around them.  Studying Coho Salmon in the Upper Chilliwack River Watershed Despite their sign ..read more

Californian salmon have been migrating up and down the west coast for centuries. However, as the region has continued to grow and develop, some of the avenues and routes previously relied on for travel are no longer easy to navigate. Instead, there are complex waterways like the Yolo Bypass, which is comprised of multiple channels and a surrounding floodplain that protects Sacramento from flooding but also creates barriers for migratory fish like salmon.  Adult salmon that are traveling upstream to spawn often don’t make it past the Yolo Bypass due to drought cutting off access points and ..read more