News

In thestudy, published in Nature Food, the research team estimates that recreational fishing in lakes and rivers accounts for more than eleven per cent of the annually reported catches in inland fisheries worldwide. The analyzed total consumption value of harvested fish is around 10 billion US dollars per year. Due to climate change and direct human impacts on freshwater ecosystems, the productivity of important fish species such as trout and salmon is declining, affecting the nutritional services offered by rivers and lakes.

IGB scientist Olga Lukyanova was honoured by the Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin for her master thesis.

Student Katja Mehrwald has investigated what species are on the diet of grey seals in the southern Baltic Sea. For her study, carried out at the University of Rostock and IGB, she has now been awarded the Master's Prize of the German Zoological Society. 

At its annual conference, the German Society for Limnology (DGL) awards three prizes to outstanding young researchers. Malwina Schafft from the research group of Robert Arlinghaus received the 3rd prize.

How can the declining pike stocks in the Bodden be supported? IGB researchers have formulated clear recommendations for politics, authorities and the user groups.

Crustaceans such as shrimp are a popular food. Due to the high demand for crustaceans, the majority of those consumed no longer come from the wild, but are farmed on a large scale in aquaculture. However, there is potential for improvement in terms of sustainability and animal welfare. In an interview, Dr Sven Würtz explains why aquaculture practitioners should address this issue with urgency.

How does oxygen make fish larvae glow? How can hungry scavenger cells protect against diseases? And why does dirt in the water help fish grow better? Researchers utilize natural substances to breed sustainable and healthy food fish.

Freshwater biodiversity is declining at alarming rates. In a large-scale effort, a research team led by IGB and the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (HU) in cooperation with angling clubs, has conducted whole-lake experiments in 20 lakes to improve ecological conditions. Habitat improvements were the most effective means to enhance fish populations, whereas fish stocking completely failed. The study published in the journal Science emphasizes the importance of restoring habitats and improving natural ecosystem processes, which benefits fish populations, conservation and fisheries.