Meaghan Guckian, Core Faculty in Environmental Studies and Director of the Climate Change Education Certificate program at Antioch University’s New England campus, has co-authored a new article in Fisheries titled, “Individual outcomes matter in the context of responsible and sustainable catch-and-release practices in recreational fisheries and their management.”
The article examines catch-and-release (C&R) as a common recreational fishing practice often assumed to cause little harm, yet research shows that some released fish die and many experience sublethal impacts, such as injury and stress. The authors argue that individual fish outcomes should matter, ethically and practically, because improving handling practices and angler education can reduce harm, support more resilient fisheries under climate change, and strengthen responsible management. The piece also situates this view alongside an opposing perspective in the field that prioritizes population-level impacts, aiming to create constructive dialogue and identify common ground for sustainable recreational fisheries.
To read the article, click here.
