JOHN LYONS

“Native fishes are fundamental to healthy aquatic ecosystems and the fisheries they support”

JOHN LYONS has been fascinated with and passionate about fish his entire life. He started fishing at age 4, was maintaining his own aquariums at 10, began snorkeling to observe fish at 11, and started researching fish academically and professionally at 20. John received his B.S. in Biology from Union College, Schenectady, NY, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, all with a focus on fish. After college, John went to work as a fisheries research scientist and later supervisor for Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources where he worked for 33 years before retiring in 2017. Concurrent with his work at WDNR, John was Adjunct Curator of Fishes at the University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum, and through that appointment, he studied and helped preserve native Mexican freshwater fishes. Upon retirement from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, John was appointed the permanent Curator of Fishes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a part-time position he continues to this day, working with both Wisconsin and Mexican fishes. John co-teaches a University of Wisconsin-Madison class, “Ecology of Fishes” as well. He can be reached at Info@NativeFishColaition.org