Fish of the Mississippi River

The Mississippi is Americas fishing river - central to bass, catfish, and increasingly to invasive Asian carp. Its 375 species range from tiny darters to 100 kg blue catfish and prehistoric paddlefish and sturgeon. The rivers hypoxic Gulf dead zone - fueled by agricultural nitrogen runoff - now covers thousands of square kilometers annually. Modern Mississippi fisheries management is a case study in balancing agriculture, industry, and biodiversity.

Blue catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, paddlefish, pallid sturgeon, alligator gar. Invasive silver and bighead carp.

Invasive Asian carp advancing toward Great Lakes. Pallid sturgeon critically endangered. Dead zone in Gulf of Mexico from nutrient runoff.