Non-native fish stocking in wilderness

Abstract

Over the past century, sport fish have been introduced into most of the naturally fishless lakes in U.S. wilderness areas. Fish introductions have changed entire lake ecosystems and communities, often with detrimental impacts to native fish and amphibians. However, people who enjoy fishing have come to expect fish in these lakes as part of their wilderness experiences. Wilderness managers must make difficult and controversial decisions about how to balance this recreational opportunity with preservation of the native fauna and flora threatened. The Leopold Institute supports several ongoing studies related to this issue, including studies on the impacts of exotic trout to amphibians in wilderness lakes in Idaho, California, and Montana, and a study of exotic trout impacts to native invertebrates in Utah.

Citation

Wright, Vita. 1999. Non-native fish stocking in wilderness. International Journal of Wilderness. 5(1): 14.