A wide ranging survey of North American fish has found nearly four of 10 species are at risk of eventual extinction, a 92 percent increase over a similar survey performed nearly 20 years ago.
The report from the U.S. Geological Survey and the American Fisheries Society lists 700 fish as vulnerable, threatened, endangered or extinct compared to 364 species listed in 1969.
Wait. 20 years ago. 1969. I was born in 1969. I'm only 20!
The list includes six new species in the Ohio and Great Lakes regions and names habitat loss and pollution among the principal threats all fish face.
"What I was surprised at was the extent of this across North America," said Noel Burkhead, a research fish biologist at the Geological Survey who took part in the fish study.
The study shows 39 fish in Ohio and Great Lakes in jeopardy, up from 33 species listed in a 2000 survey and 18 species in 1989.
Fish that are new to the list are the pugnose shiner, redside dace, Arctic grayling, Atlantic salmon, Lake Ontario kiyi and the Nipigon blackfin cisco.
Damn. And I was going to have a Nipigon blackfin cisco fricase for dinner. Backup plan: Mac and Cheese.
