56 also some detriments to recreational fishing, like how it primarily preys upon a certain age of maturation of fish, how it can lead to overfishing, or how it can cause habitat destruction. However, this just indicates the necessity of regulations to curtail these potential consequences. Therefore, recreational fishing and the well-being of aquatic environments are connected in all bodies of water that are fished, including the Fox River. Through their respect for the environment, anglers are aware of the impact they have on the waters they fish and the necessity of balance, which prompts them towards conservation efforts that are essential in preserving the species of the rivers. Given the popularity of recreational fishing in the Fox River, this concept can be exploited to help protect and improve the river. Commercial fishing is a necessary industry, worth billions of dollars and providing countries their supply of fish, and while it is not without its merits, there also lie significant issues within the industry that are damaging to aquatic ecosystems. Firstly, there are benefits to the large-scale aspect of commercial fishing. For the last decade, the more than 1,200 licensed commercial anglers on the Illinois River have done their part to manage the Asian carp epidemic, spending their workdays catching boatloads of the species (6.3 million pounds to date), though they are only worth pennies to the pound.13 The fishermen claim they do it more as a public service, as it is a rough day to make the day’s earnings yet when pounds of the invasive species are removed from the river, there are automatically more resources available for the native species of fish.14 There are also consequential ramifications of commercial fishing, like its penchant to result in overfishing. Although inland waters, such as rivers, experience a variety of stressors, including pollution and the introduction of new species, overfishing is a significant concern. Commercial fishing can call forth the “fishing 13 “Asian Carp Business Process Analysis.” Fishing in Illinois. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://www.ifishillinois.org/programs/CARPReport_news.html. 14 McFarland, Joe. “Roughing It.” Outdoor Illinois, March 2005. https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/oi/documents/march05commercialfishing.pdf.
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