Fish

Native Fish & Freshwater Habitats of Maryland

Welcome to the underwater world of Maryland’s native fish! From shimmering sunfish to ancient sturgeon, these aquatic residents rely on healthy plant-rich streams, wetlands, ponds, and rivers. This section explores the vital role of native vegetation in supporting freshwater and estuarine fish across Maryland.

Why Plants Matter to Fish

Healthy fish need more than clean water—they need habitat. Native aquatic and shoreline plants play a critical role in fish life cycles:

• Submerged plants (like Elodea or Vallisneria) offer oxygen and shelter

• Emergent plants (like Pickerelweed or Arrowhead) provide edges where juveniles hide

• Floating-leaved plants (like Water lilies) shade and cool the water

• Riparian vegetation stabilizes banks, reduces runoff, and supports insect prey

Fish Featured in the Atlas

Here are some native species highlighted for their plant interactions:

Fish Species Role of Native Plants

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Needs shaded, forested streams with clean gravel

Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) Feeds on snails in submerged vegetation

Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) Spawns in clean rivers; benefits from riparian buffers

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Spawns near aquatic plants; juveniles use plants for shelter

American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) Migrates through vegetated estuaries as juveniles

Fish & Ecosystem Health

Fish are indicators of water quality and ecological balance. When native vegetation declines, so do the insects, oxygen levels, and spawning grounds that fish need to survive.

Planting and protecting native wetland, streamside, and aquatic vegetation is an act of fish conservation!

Learn More

• Maryland DNR: Fisheries Service

• USGS Chesapeake Bay Fish Habitat Studies

• Maryland Native Plant Society

What You Can Do

• Plant native riparian buffers along streams and ponds

• Avoid mowing to the water’s edge—let sedges and grasses grow

• Remove invasive aquatic plants and replace with native species

• Support policies that protect wetlands and headwater streams

Sources