AUTHORS: Steven J. Herrington, The Nature Conservancy, MN-ND-SD; Tyler Winter, Native Fish For Tomorrow; Solomon R. David, The University of Minnesota Matthew L. Miller, The Nature Conservancy, Science Communications
ABSTRACT: North America has the highest diversity of freshwater fishes of any temperate region worldwide. These species face numerous threats to their long-term conservation. Fisheries management is amongst the tools that governments, Tribes, and other interested parties can use to ensure this biodiversity sustainably persists and thrives into the future. “Rough fish” is a pejorative term often used by resource managers and anglers to group a large number of native fishes – including gars and numerous sucker species – that are perceived to have little fisheries or cultural value, and thus are often poorly managed and exploited. In 2024, the State of Minnesota passed the first law in the U.S. affording fisheries management protections for 26 native fishes now recognized by the state as “native rough fish”. This action sets a precedent for recognizing the inherent, cultural, and fisheries importance of these species that can be replicated or adapted by other states nationwide. This presentation will provide an historical perspective of “rough fish” regulations, recommendations for their future conservation management, and applicability to states in the Midwest.
