Fishing plays a vital economic, cultural, recreational, and subsistence role in the United States. Annually, inland recreational fishing across the U.S. generates approximately \$36 billion in expenditures. Midwestern states have some of the most valuable recreational fisheries in the country, with Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio among the top six states for angling expenditures.

The Midwest is home to abundant lakes, rivers, and streams that support a variety of fish species including walleye, bass, catfish, trout, sturgeon, perch, sun fish, and others. Fishing activities contribute to local economies, tourism, and the overall well-being of communities across the region, connecting people with nature. Fishing is not only a recreational activity but also an important cultural tradition for many communities, including Tribes, where fishing is intertwined with cultural identity and tradition. However, fishing in the Midwest is facing a number of threats, including climate change, invasive species, and harvest pressure. The impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, affecting water temperature, fish habitat, and the timing of fish spawning. Warmer temperatures can lead to shifts in fish populations, altering species distributions and life cycles, which can affect the overall diversity of aquatic ecosystems. Changes in precipitation patterns also influence water quantity and quality, impacting fish habitats and reducing availability of those habitats during critical life history time periods (e.g., spawning and nursey habitats).

Managers and conservation organizations are actively working to address these issues through the implementation of sustainable fishing regulations, habitat restoration projects, reintroduction and stocking, and community engagement. If adaptation strategies—such as improving watershed management, restoring ecosystems, promoting climate-resilient fishing practices, and managing for future expected population shifts—are implemented, managers can be better prepared to manage for climate change, increasing and protecting the viability of fish populations and the livelihoods of communities that rely on freshwater fishing.
 

Supporting Fishing in the Midwest

The Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) are supporting state and Tribal natural resource managers as they seek to maintain and enhance opportunities for recreational and subsistence fishing opportunities in the Midwest. Results from multiple research efforts are providing information on current fishing practices and angler satisfaction under a changing climate, habitat restoration practices that hold the greatest potential to enhance sportfish populations, expected shifts in fish communities as waters warm, and stocking strategies that will produce the best fishing opportunities.