Cons Sci Seminar

September 25, 2026

12:00-1:00pm

In person (preferred): 335 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul Campus

Remote: https://umn.zoom.us/j/91715591077

Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Inland Lake Recreational Fisheries Dynamics

Dr. Cam Mosley

Research Scientist, UMN Dept of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology

Abstract

Fisheries are an important social-ecological system that provide a multitude of ecosystem services, but assessing and managing human impacts on fisheries are complex processes due to differing desires within the recreational angler community. One way that fisheries scientists and managers assess changes in fish populations is through a metric called catch per unit effort (CPUE), or simply, how many fish someone catches in a period of time. Many anglers assume that the proportion of fish captured through recreational angling reflects species abundance, yet that is almost never the case. Understanding what factors influence population-level catch rates and individual fish capture by anglers is of great importance for evaluating which populations are vulnerable to overfishing and how shifts in angler pressure may influence fish behavior. Comparing fisheries-independent and fisheries-dependent assessments can assist fisheries managers in detecting changes in fish populations and prioritizing management efforts towards sustainable fisheries. In my talk, I will describe several of my research projects aimed at understanding catch rate - abundance relationships using angler surveys (creel methods), statistical models, and whole-lake experimentation in Upper Midwest lakes. In addition, I will discuss my ongoing research on catch rate responses to angling technology in Minnesota lakes.

Biosketch

Cam Mosley (they/them) is a research scientist working in Dr. Gretchen Hansen’s lab within the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Cam’s research examines topics in applied fisheries science to better understand how human and climate impacts on fish populations and behaviors alter aquatic ecosystem outcomes to inform fisheries management. Cam’s current research project aims to understand how increases in fishing technology, such as live imaging sonar, are impacting catch rates of Minnesota sport fish species. Cam started their UMN journey in 2024 as an NSF postdoctoral fellow in the Hansen lab investigating the predictive power of climate and lake characteristics on ecological niche overlap of Minnesota fish populations across thermal guilds. Cam received their PhD in Biology from the University of Notre Dame, where they studied habitat and angler impacts on sportfish populations in northern temperate lakes, and they received their BS in Environmental Science from Emory University. They are a contributing author in the book titled “Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature.” In Cam’s free time, they enjoy fishing for fun, watching women’s sports, and traveling.