The Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli)
FiCli is a comprehensive, publicly-available database of peer-reviewed literature on climate change impacts to inland fish.
The U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat)
CreelCat is a first-of-its-kind national database of angler-survey data.
Featured Publication
Inland recreational fisheries contribute nutritional benefits and economic value but are vulnerable to climate change
The CASC Fish Research Program is a dynamic group of federal researchers and early-career scientists working together to explore the impacts of climate and other stressors on fish and aquatic systems to inform conservation and climate adaptation.
Our Work
Fishing holds significant economic and cultural value in the United States and across the globe. Inland fish, or those found in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other land-locked waters, provide food for billions and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. In the U.S., inland recreational fishing generates approximately \$36 billion in expenditures each year, provides treasured opportunities for people to connect with nature, and supports human health. Fishing for food to eat, or subsistence fishing, provides food security and vital micronutrients, strengthens community resilience to economic hardship, and preserves cultural traditions.
However, inland fish and fisheries face intensifying pressure from threats like climate change, invasive species, pollution, and overharvest. The impacts of climate change are increasingly evident. Warming water temperatures are changing which fish species are found where and the timing of important life-cycle events like spawning. Changes in precipitation patterns alter water quality and quantity, and therefore the availability of suitable habitat for some species. Characterizing the diversity and severity of these threats is important for prioritizing management and guiding resource allocation that minimizes impacts while also planning for future threats.
The CASC Fish Research Program is dedicated to supporting the sustainable management and conservation of inland fisheries in the face of climate change and other pressures, providing data and tools that directly help fisheries managers strategically adapt to changing conditions. The program is comprised of a dynamic team of scientists partnering with federal, state, and tribal management agencies, universities, and other conservation practitioners to carry out novel research and science synthesis designed to meet the needs of fisheries managers.
Our goal is to better understand global change impacts to economically and culturally important fish resources and help partners strategically conserve and adapt to changing conditions.
Research Themes

The CASC Fish Research team explores a wide variety of science topics relating to fish and climate change, including:
- Recreational fisheries management
- Economic, cultural, and nutritional value of fisheries
- Climate impacts on fish, fisheries, and aquatic ecosystems
- Ecological effects of aquatic invasive species
Science with On-The-Ground Impacts
The CASC Fish Research Team works closely with a diverse group of partners to ensure their research can be directly used by resource managers and conservation practitioners to inform fisheries management. They include partners in every stage of the scientific process, specifically designing their projects to address pressing management challenges and to fill in knowledge gaps. They work with everyone from individual anglers and Indigenous communities up to large professional networks to create new and innovative approaches to fisheries management in the face of climate change. The team is often asked to present their research to Federal leadership through Congressional briefings and in-person presentations.

The CASC Fish Research Team lead diverse, cutting-edge research on the effects of climate change on fish populations around the world. Learn more about their research projects below or check out our Project Explorer to see all the work the CASCs do on fish.
Climate Adaptation for Data-Limited Inland Fisheries
Fellow Project: Linking Great Lakes Fishery Management with Regional Climate Modeling
Indigenous Perspectives on Lake Sturgeon and the Potential Impact of Climate Change
Integrating Multiple Data Sets to Inform Climate Adaptation Strategies for Inland Fish and Recreational Fishing
Increasing Tribal Climate Adaptive Capacity for Coastal Resources in the Northeast
Developing an Indicator of Species Vulnerability to Climate Change to Support a Consistent Nationwide Approach to Assessing Vulnerability
Evaluating How Changing Climate and Water Clarity Can Affect Restoration of Native Coregonine Fish in Midwestern Lakes
Walleye Fisheries: Bright Spots in a Changing Climate
Fellow Project: Mapping Estuarine Vulnerability to Water Quality Change Under Future Climate and Land Use Conditions
A Novel Monitoring Framework to Assess Intertidal Biodiversity in Mixed Coarse Substrate Habitats Across the Boston Harbor Islands
Estimating Global Inland Recreational Consumption to Adapt to Global Change
Impacts of Extreme Events on the Native and Nonnative Aquatic Species of Hawaiʻi Stream Ecosystem
The CASC Fish Research Team's diverse projects and people are often highlighted in videos and feature films. Explore our team's webinars, profiles, and research highlights below.
RAD Framework Webinar

Ecosystems are transforming under climate change, with substantial shifts in ecological processes and important ecosystem services occurring at unprecedented rates. The RAD Framework can help resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological transformation.
The CASC Fish Research Team is highly prolific and has published over 100 academic articles. Check out a selection of their publications below.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos
Three decades of World Recreational Fishing Conferences: What have we learned about the dynamics of recreational fisheries? Three decades of World Recreational Fishing Conferences: What have we learned about the dynamics of recreational fisheries?
Healing ogaa (walleye Sander vitreus) waters: Lessons and future directions for inland fisheries rehabilitation Healing ogaa (walleye Sander vitreus) waters: Lessons and future directions for inland fisheries rehabilitation
Exposure, sensitivity, or adaptive capacity? Reviewing assessments that use only two of three elements of climate change vulnerability Exposure, sensitivity, or adaptive capacity? Reviewing assessments that use only two of three elements of climate change vulnerability
Adaptive capacities of inland fisheries facing anthropogenic pressures Adaptive capacities of inland fisheries facing anthropogenic pressures
Lake temperature and morphometry shape the thermal composition of recreational fishing catch Lake temperature and morphometry shape the thermal composition of recreational fishing catch
Life on land needs fresh water (SDG 15) Life on land needs fresh water (SDG 15)
Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand
Diminishing productivity and hyperstable harvest in northern Wisconsin walleye fisheries Diminishing productivity and hyperstable harvest in northern Wisconsin walleye fisheries
Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends
The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico
Reproducing age variability in grass carp egg samples from the lower Sandusky River, Ohio, USA, using an egg-drift model Reproducing age variability in grass carp egg samples from the lower Sandusky River, Ohio, USA, using an egg-drift model
The Fish Research Team develops a variety of tools and products for different audiences. The team produces geonarratives for the public to communicate the threats to inland fisheries around the world, while also developing tools to assist managers working to conserve these fisheries. Browse the different tools below!
Recreational Inland Fisheries as Food Recreational Inland Fisheries as Food
Lake Class and Walleye Natural Resources Information Lake Class and Walleye Natural Resources Information
U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat) U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat)
Inland Fisheries Across the World: Assessing the State of Freshwater Aquatic Resources Inland Fisheries Across the World: Assessing the State of Freshwater Aquatic Resources
The Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli) The Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli)
The CASC network loves to highlight Fish Team research. Browse related news announcements below. To stay up-to-date on all Fish Team activities, sign up for the CASC newsletter.
The CASC Fish Research team is always growing! Below, find lists of our current affiliates, past members, and our federal staff.
Current Affiliates
Kendle Evin, UVA
Matthew Fitchett, UVA
Daria Gundermann, UVA
Scott Jackson, ORISE
Jason Motley, GMU
Inaya Samad, Howard University
Gretchen Stokes, ORISE
Ambar Torres Molinari, ORISE
Past Members
Asha Ajmani, Beverly Bachmann, Rachel Bratton, Daniel Buczek, Lauren Craige, Janet Cushing, Rebecca Dalton, Amanda Davis, Lakshita Dey, Andrew DiSanto, Sarah Endyke, James Garner, Shemaiah Kentish, Mitch Lang, Henry Legett, Sean Lewandoski, Lucy Lockwood, Erika Minock, Logan Neu, Emily Powell, Aly Putnam, Cristian Ramirez, Ashley Robertson, Chelsie Romulo, Hunter Sayre
Past Members (Cont.)
Anuti Shah, Cielo Sharkus, Jason Shin, Nick Sievert, Michelle Staudinger, Justin Taylor, Cassie VanWynen, Keenan Yakola, Jesse Wong, Ray Zhang
Abigail J. Lynch, Ph.D.
Research Fish Biologist, National CASC
T. Douglas Beard, Jr., Ph.D.
Senior Administrator, National CASC
Shawn L Carter, Ph.D.
Acting Senior Administrator
Bonnie Myers, Ph.D.
Biologist, National CASC
The CASC Fish Research Program is a dynamic group of federal researchers and early-career scientists working together to explore the impacts of climate and other stressors on fish and aquatic systems to inform conservation and climate adaptation.
Our Work
Fishing holds significant economic and cultural value in the United States and across the globe. Inland fish, or those found in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other land-locked waters, provide food for billions and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. In the U.S., inland recreational fishing generates approximately \$36 billion in expenditures each year, provides treasured opportunities for people to connect with nature, and supports human health. Fishing for food to eat, or subsistence fishing, provides food security and vital micronutrients, strengthens community resilience to economic hardship, and preserves cultural traditions.
However, inland fish and fisheries face intensifying pressure from threats like climate change, invasive species, pollution, and overharvest. The impacts of climate change are increasingly evident. Warming water temperatures are changing which fish species are found where and the timing of important life-cycle events like spawning. Changes in precipitation patterns alter water quality and quantity, and therefore the availability of suitable habitat for some species. Characterizing the diversity and severity of these threats is important for prioritizing management and guiding resource allocation that minimizes impacts while also planning for future threats.
The CASC Fish Research Program is dedicated to supporting the sustainable management and conservation of inland fisheries in the face of climate change and other pressures, providing data and tools that directly help fisheries managers strategically adapt to changing conditions. The program is comprised of a dynamic team of scientists partnering with federal, state, and tribal management agencies, universities, and other conservation practitioners to carry out novel research and science synthesis designed to meet the needs of fisheries managers.
Our goal is to better understand global change impacts to economically and culturally important fish resources and help partners strategically conserve and adapt to changing conditions.
Research Themes

The CASC Fish Research team explores a wide variety of science topics relating to fish and climate change, including:
- Recreational fisheries management
- Economic, cultural, and nutritional value of fisheries
- Climate impacts on fish, fisheries, and aquatic ecosystems
- Ecological effects of aquatic invasive species
Science with On-The-Ground Impacts
The CASC Fish Research Team works closely with a diverse group of partners to ensure their research can be directly used by resource managers and conservation practitioners to inform fisheries management. They include partners in every stage of the scientific process, specifically designing their projects to address pressing management challenges and to fill in knowledge gaps. They work with everyone from individual anglers and Indigenous communities up to large professional networks to create new and innovative approaches to fisheries management in the face of climate change. The team is often asked to present their research to Federal leadership through Congressional briefings and in-person presentations.

The CASC Fish Research Team lead diverse, cutting-edge research on the effects of climate change on fish populations around the world. Learn more about their research projects below or check out our Project Explorer to see all the work the CASCs do on fish.
Climate Adaptation for Data-Limited Inland Fisheries
Fellow Project: Linking Great Lakes Fishery Management with Regional Climate Modeling
Indigenous Perspectives on Lake Sturgeon and the Potential Impact of Climate Change
Integrating Multiple Data Sets to Inform Climate Adaptation Strategies for Inland Fish and Recreational Fishing
Increasing Tribal Climate Adaptive Capacity for Coastal Resources in the Northeast
Developing an Indicator of Species Vulnerability to Climate Change to Support a Consistent Nationwide Approach to Assessing Vulnerability
Evaluating How Changing Climate and Water Clarity Can Affect Restoration of Native Coregonine Fish in Midwestern Lakes
Walleye Fisheries: Bright Spots in a Changing Climate
Fellow Project: Mapping Estuarine Vulnerability to Water Quality Change Under Future Climate and Land Use Conditions
A Novel Monitoring Framework to Assess Intertidal Biodiversity in Mixed Coarse Substrate Habitats Across the Boston Harbor Islands
Estimating Global Inland Recreational Consumption to Adapt to Global Change
Impacts of Extreme Events on the Native and Nonnative Aquatic Species of Hawaiʻi Stream Ecosystem
The CASC Fish Research Team's diverse projects and people are often highlighted in videos and feature films. Explore our team's webinars, profiles, and research highlights below.
RAD Framework Webinar

Ecosystems are transforming under climate change, with substantial shifts in ecological processes and important ecosystem services occurring at unprecedented rates. The RAD Framework can help resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological transformation.
The CASC Fish Research Team is highly prolific and has published over 100 academic articles. Check out a selection of their publications below.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos
Three decades of World Recreational Fishing Conferences: What have we learned about the dynamics of recreational fisheries? Three decades of World Recreational Fishing Conferences: What have we learned about the dynamics of recreational fisheries?
Healing ogaa (walleye Sander vitreus) waters: Lessons and future directions for inland fisheries rehabilitation Healing ogaa (walleye Sander vitreus) waters: Lessons and future directions for inland fisheries rehabilitation
Exposure, sensitivity, or adaptive capacity? Reviewing assessments that use only two of three elements of climate change vulnerability Exposure, sensitivity, or adaptive capacity? Reviewing assessments that use only two of three elements of climate change vulnerability
Adaptive capacities of inland fisheries facing anthropogenic pressures Adaptive capacities of inland fisheries facing anthropogenic pressures
Lake temperature and morphometry shape the thermal composition of recreational fishing catch Lake temperature and morphometry shape the thermal composition of recreational fishing catch
Life on land needs fresh water (SDG 15) Life on land needs fresh water (SDG 15)
Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand
Diminishing productivity and hyperstable harvest in northern Wisconsin walleye fisheries Diminishing productivity and hyperstable harvest in northern Wisconsin walleye fisheries
Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends
The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico
Reproducing age variability in grass carp egg samples from the lower Sandusky River, Ohio, USA, using an egg-drift model Reproducing age variability in grass carp egg samples from the lower Sandusky River, Ohio, USA, using an egg-drift model
The Fish Research Team develops a variety of tools and products for different audiences. The team produces geonarratives for the public to communicate the threats to inland fisheries around the world, while also developing tools to assist managers working to conserve these fisheries. Browse the different tools below!
Recreational Inland Fisheries as Food Recreational Inland Fisheries as Food
Lake Class and Walleye Natural Resources Information Lake Class and Walleye Natural Resources Information
U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat) U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat)
Inland Fisheries Across the World: Assessing the State of Freshwater Aquatic Resources Inland Fisheries Across the World: Assessing the State of Freshwater Aquatic Resources
The Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli) The Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli)
The CASC network loves to highlight Fish Team research. Browse related news announcements below. To stay up-to-date on all Fish Team activities, sign up for the CASC newsletter.
The CASC Fish Research team is always growing! Below, find lists of our current affiliates, past members, and our federal staff.
Current Affiliates
Kendle Evin, UVA
Matthew Fitchett, UVA
Daria Gundermann, UVA
Scott Jackson, ORISE
Jason Motley, GMU
Inaya Samad, Howard University
Gretchen Stokes, ORISE
Ambar Torres Molinari, ORISE
Past Members
Asha Ajmani, Beverly Bachmann, Rachel Bratton, Daniel Buczek, Lauren Craige, Janet Cushing, Rebecca Dalton, Amanda Davis, Lakshita Dey, Andrew DiSanto, Sarah Endyke, James Garner, Shemaiah Kentish, Mitch Lang, Henry Legett, Sean Lewandoski, Lucy Lockwood, Erika Minock, Logan Neu, Emily Powell, Aly Putnam, Cristian Ramirez, Ashley Robertson, Chelsie Romulo, Hunter Sayre
Past Members (Cont.)
Anuti Shah, Cielo Sharkus, Jason Shin, Nick Sievert, Michelle Staudinger, Justin Taylor, Cassie VanWynen, Keenan Yakola, Jesse Wong, Ray Zhang