While climate change is often blamed for declining fish populations, recent research suggests that fishing practices have a more significant impact. According to a study spearheaded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, anglers play a more substantial role in affecting fish numbers compared to rising temperatures.
The findings were published in the journal Science Advances by a collaboration of state, federal, and academic researchers. They scrutinized data from the last 40 years regarding 521 fish populations across nearly 200 Midwest lakes.
The study focused on eight fish species, including those that prefer warm waters like bluegill and bass, alongside cold-water species such as cisco and walleye. Researchers utilized a model to simulate the potential impacts on these populations in the absence of warming and fishing…