State of the Science on the Effects of Climate Change on North American Inland Fishes

Changes in the Earth’s climate are expected to impact freshwater habitats around the world by altering water temperatures, water levels, and streamflow. These changes will have consequences for inland fish – those found within lakes, rivers, streams, canals, reservoirs, and other landlocked waters – which are important for food, commerce, and recreation around the world. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2011, 33.1 million people fished and spent $41.8 billion in the United States alone. Yet to date, little comprehensive research has been conducted to investigate the effects of climate change on inland fisheries at a large scale.  

The aim of this project was to summarize the current state of knowledge, identify data gaps, and suggest future research directions around four major themes dealing with climate related impacts on fishes and fisheries. To answer these questions, researchers lead a workshop for experts in climate change and fish ecology from universities, state and provincial governments, and federal agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada. Together, the experts compiled the findings of 48 studies, mainly focused on salmon and trout, and solicited feedback from inland fishery experts around the world.

The findings of this effort show that climate change is poised to impact inland fish in a variety of ways. For example, some fish, especially coldwater species such as brook trout, will likely become stressed by the new conditions, while others (e.g., smallmouth bass) may thrive. These results provide a baseline of current knowledge on inland fisheries and climate change that can inform future research and help focus conservation efforts.