Non-native Fish Species: A Management Conundrum and an Ecological Headache

Photo courtesy of Utah DWR

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Many non-native fish species have been stocked in aquatic habitats for recreational purposes for over a century.  However, non-native game fish can have significant effects on native organisms, as well as the functioning of freshwater ecosystems.  Nowhere are these consequences more strongly felt than in mountain lakes, most of which were historically fishless.  Although fish stocking in wilderness areas is widespread practice,  it is incongruent with the intent of the Wilderness Act.  This has put management agencies in a challenging position.  Here, I will discuss some research on the ecological effects of fish stocking on contaminants in mountain lakes, how visitors to national parks perceive fish stocking activities, unintended consequences of fish removal, and thoughts on how we go forward from here.