Future of Fisheries: Perspectives for Emerging Professionals

Linking Successful Careers to Successful Fisheries

Charles F. Rabeni and Shannon K. Brewer

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874387.ch7

The problems afflicting fish populations in the United States (including those of rivers and streams, as emphasized in this essay) are well documented and a major challenge for future fisheries professionals. The situation was personalized for us because in more than 50 combined years of stream research and lots of stream recreation, rarely has either of us visited a stream where overall fish habitat appears to have improved over time, nor have we met a seasoned angler who believes stream fishing is now better than when they were younger. While we recognize that stream degradation in the United States is not a recent phenomenon, and much began in the 1800s as a result of poor land management, it is obvious that considerable recent efforts by extremely competent individuals in our profession have not yielded the desired results, and that for real progress to occur, a different approach might be useful.