Non-native Fish Species: A Management Conundrum and an Ecological Headache
Photo courtesy of Utah DWR
See Zoom details.
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.
About the Speaker
Dr. Angela Strecker is the Director of the Institute for Watershed Studies and Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences. Prior to arriving at WWU, she was faculty in the Department of Environmental Science and Management at Portland State University and Director of the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Biology at the University of Regina and a Ph.D. at Queen's University in Biology.
Environmental Speaker Series
The Environmental Speaker Series is hosted by the College of the Environment at Western Washington University.
The Series is free and open to the public. Talks are held each Thursday at 4:30 pm in Academic Instructional Center West room 204 - AW-204. Talks will also be streamed via Zoom. Register with The Foundation for WWU & Alumni for the zoom link. Parking is available in lot C.