Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) are small, silvery forage fish in the family Clupeidae (Figure 1). Their native range spans the eastern seaboard of North America from South Carolina to Newfoundland. Historically, alewives have supported important...
Salmon and trout (the salmonids) across the Pacific Northwest are known for their table fare and prodigious sport fishing. In addition, many salmonids are declining because of overfishing and/or lack of adequate spawning habitat,...
Do you ever wonder how scientists get information about the habitat preferences, spawning periods, and migration of fish? There are two methods by which we can observed fish: direct and indirect. An example of...
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that result from the breakdown of consumer and industrial products (Figure 1) such as Styrofoam coffee cups, plastic grocery bags, exfoliants and clothing. These particles accumulate in waterbodies...
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are overabundant colonies of algae (simple aquatic plants) that have negative impacts on fisheries and humans. Algae thrive in warm, stagnant conditions with high nutrient availability (particularly phosphorus), so HABs...
One of the biggest difficulties in fisheries research and management is that it is challenging to directly observe fish over the entire course of their life cycle. It is much easier to count sheep...
Snorkellers and divers exploring warm tropical waters often encounter a mesmerizing fish species known as a lionfish (Pterois spp., Figure 1). They may look beautiful with their feathery fins and striped pattern, but lionfish...
Salmon runs occur when adult salmon migrate from the open ocean and swim up freshwater rivers to spawn (Figure 1). Amazingly, most salmon return to the same natal rivers where they were born, a...
The Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) is a small, silvery creature. It smells like peeled cucumbers and has a lifespan of about a year. This unassuming fish has been at the center of California’s water...
Marine debris is a major issue in coastal and marine ecosystems around the world. While large accumulations of floating debris, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, are the most visible, some other types...
