150 Fishes to Celebrate 150 Years
This list is still in progress and being added to weekly. Check back again soon!
150 Fishes to Celebrate 150 Years
In 2020, the American Fisheries Society will celebrate its 150th Anniversary. As part of the celebration, the Society will be calling attention to 150 fishes. We solicited nominations of fishes for the list by the Society’s membership.
The 150 Fishes list is a celebration of the biodiversity of freshwater and marine fishes of North America. These fishes will help tell the story of fish and fisheries of the continent. They may illustrate unique life histories, beauty, conservation issues, and challenges of managing and conserving these animals and their habitats. These fishes represent our native biodiversity, but also illustrates how invasives and our own human nature have had impacts on our aquatic resources. Hence, this list will primarily focus on native species but may include non-natives when they tell a compelling fisheries story. From the stories of these fishes, the Society and the public can learn to better appreciate these amazing natural resources and be challenged to ensure that future generations will be able to experience these fishes in their native settings.
Nomination Process
Fish nominations are now closed.
Circulation Process
The 150 Fishes list will reside at the 150th Anniversary Website, information about individual fish from the list will be circulated through various social media platforms throughout the year.
This list is meant to be a fun for members and informative for the public. It is unlikely we will be able to include all nominations. We acknowledge that every fish has a story. There may be opportunities to discuss all the nominated fishes in the future.
FULL LIST OF NOMINATED FISH
| Catchy Title | The Northern Behemoth of the Deep |
|---|---|
| Common Name of Fish | Pacific Halibut |
| Scientific Name of Fish | Hippoglossus stenolepis |
| Image of Fish |  |
| Image Caption and Credit | Credit: SeafoodNews.com |
| Description of Why This Fish Is Important/Interesting | The Pacific Halibut, commonly referred to as “halibut” or “Alaskan halibut” is Alaska’s most iconic fish aside from salmon. This fish is especially valued in southeast, southcentral and western Alaska where it is the target of subsistence, commercial and sport fishing. Prized for its mild flavor, firm texture, low fat and high nutrient content, the Pacific Halibut is found in most restaurant menus across Alaska as a top-notch local entrée. Daily in late spring through summer, hundreds of charter boats take eager sport fishermen out to the continental shelf off Alaska’s coast where they try their luck at “reeling in a big one” and overcoming the halibut’s notoriously powerful fight. Reaching lengths of 8 ft, capable of weighing over 500 lbs., and looking entirely alien, it’s easy to see how the Pacific Halibut became such an iconic trophy fish across Alaska’s fishing towns. The Pacific Halibut has a lifespan of up to 55 years and is the largest flatfish in the Pleuronectidae family. |
| Website or Journal Article for More Information | http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=halibut.printerfriendly |
| Your Name | Quinn Powers |