MISSION STATEMENT
PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND RESTORE wild NATIVE FISH POPULATIONS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP OF THE FISH AND THEIR HABITATS
OHIO native fishes
Ohio has a high abundance of native fishes. This is greatly influenced by the presence of two large and diverse water bodies: Lake Erie and the Ohio River. These large drainages are home to roughly 145 native fish species across 25 families. The majority of Ohio’s native fish are classified as non-gamefish, although gamefish, including nonnative species, often get the most attention as is the case in many other states. Three families of fish out of the total 25 present make up over half the native fish species in Ohio at approximately 60%. The families that hold the majority of native fish in Ohio are Cyprinids (40), Percids (25), and Catostomids (20). Most of these fish are non game species. Native species of note in Ohio include brook trout, lake sturgeon, walleye, ohio lamprey, spotted gar, blue sucker, tippecanoe darter, tonguetied minnow, pirate perch, and western banded killifish. Ohio’s native fish species have contributed to the single largest database on fish in the United States at over 12,725,930 individuals recorded.
status, threats, and conservation
Lake Erie and the Ohio River have experienced myriad ecological damage since European settlement. Dams built to power mills in 18th and 19th centuries blocked fish-passage in many waterways, and caused sedimentation and habitat degradation. Pollution has contributed to the overall problem as well, including a recent increase in algae blooms resulting from high levels of nitrates and phosphates from agricultural runoff. Shoreside development has resulted in other forms of pollutant run-off. The Ohio River is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. Nonnative fish introductions have taken their toll as well, with Ohio now home to roughly 30 naturalized non-native species and 2 hybrid species. Some of these fish were introduced by the state, including steelhead and brown trout. Twenty-one native species of fish are now listed as Endangered at the state or federal level, 11 are listed as Threatened, 6 have been locally extirpated, 8 are Species of Concern, and 3 are extinct. The Diamond darter, extirpated in Ohio, is listed as Endangered at the federal level. Blue pike went extinct in the 1970s, Scioto madtom was declared extinct in 2021, and harelip sucker went extinct in the late 1800s. Brook trout were proposed for downgrading from Threatened to Endangered in 2022.
OHIO nfc board
Below is our Ohio State Board. This dedicated group of volunteers are our "boots on the ground" in Ohio, home to untold miles of river and stream, numerous lakes and ponds, and a number of wild native fish species.
OHIO nfc ADvisory CounCil
Below is our Ohio Advisory Council. This group of volunteers represents a veritable all-star team of subject matter expertise and hands-on experience. They work with the Ohio board to identify areas in need of attention, while providing technical assistance.
IN RECOGNITION OF
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EMILY RETELLE has a degree in Biology from Baldwin University…