The battle between harvest and natural selection creates small and shy fish

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009451118
• Publication Date: 2021-02-22T21:25:26Z
• Authors: Christopher T. Monk; Dorte Bekkevold; Thomas Klefoth; Thilo Pagel; Miquel Palmer; Robert Arlinghaus
• Keywords: Esox; Natural population growth

Significance Fish are harvested nonrandomly, potentially inducing selection pressures and adaptations of phenotypes that could impede sustainable natural resource management. To assess the potential for fishing-induced selection, must also be considered, which represents a challenge in broadcast spawning fish wild. We compared harvest on size behavioral traits wild northern pike ( Esox lucius ) population. Harvest body operated opposition. but not acted directly behavior, favoring timid fish. Simulations revealed fisheries is likely easily addressable using traditional length-based regulations may thus inevitable. Intensive recreational angling can therefore promote development small, inactive, shy, difficult-to-capture