Fish: Freshwater Fish

Freshwater food-fish are the object of both fish farming and recreational fishing. Commercial freshwater fisheries and sportfishing often overlap, and both must deal with the effects of overfishing, pollution, and loss of spawning habitat to shoreline development. Freshwater fisheries occupy lakes, streams, and rivers above the fall line, where tidewater cannot go.

In North America, commercial fishing of any consequence for wild stocks of fish occurs mostly on the Great Lakes and in large rivers. The commercial advantage, which is considerable in some places, to fishing on smaller streams and lakes is derived from interest in sportfishing. Many states and small localities support the sport fishery through stocking as well as wildlife and environmental protections. Freshwater sportfishing enthusiasts have created a market for species-specific magazines, websites, and businesses that sell lures and other equipment and bait. Lodges and camps, boat rentals, and guides further serve freshwater-fishing enthusiasts.