Research and Analysis of Fisheries in Illinois: FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021

Fisheries managers are charged with understanding the interaction between sport fish populations and anglers to inform resource management decision making that supports and promotes healthy fisheries. Fundamental to this mission is easy access to long-term fisheries data, analytical tools and metrics that offer insight into the quality of a fishery, and an understanding of the factors that influence fish population dynamics. Equally important is the need to communicate this scientific knowledge and promote angling opportunities to the public. Project F-69-R has four overall goals: (1) conduct a variety of surveys and investigations that elucidate patterns of variation in sport fish populations and the mechanisms that drive those patterns, (2) evaluation methodologies used to collect fisheries data and inform sampling strategies; (3) communicate research findings and basic assessments of sport fish populations to the angling public, and (4) organize, manage, analyze and deliver sport fisheries data to researchers, sport fish managers, and the angling public. Basic and applied research studies, public outreach efforts, and data management activities all work in concert to create a better understanding of the restoration and conservation needs of sport fish populations in Illinois.