Did you know there are more species of fish (35,000+) than all other vertebrates combined? Join Rebecca Hogue Wojahn and Joe Meisel for an illuminating conversation about the wondrous and intriguing lives of fish. They’ll explore the similarities and differences between fresh and saltwater fish, from their complex histories to fascinating behaviors, and uncover the opportunities and challenges to life underwater and the importance of protecting these ecosystems and species. They’ll also examine the human relationship to fish, including fish as an important source of food and protein, of honorable jobs, and of recreational opportunities.

For millennia, sturgeon swam the waterways of Wisconsin. Before the 1800s, an estimated eleven million sturgeon lived in Lake Michigan alone. But in the early 1900s, the lake sturgeon was near extinction. In Saving Our Sturgeon: Protecting Wisconsin’s Ancient Fish, author Rebecca Hogue Wojahn tells the remarkable story of lake sturgeon in Wisconsin, the conservation efforts to save the species, and what is being done to keep the population healthy and thriving today. Geared for readers ages eleven and up, Saving Our Sturgeon explores the natural history of the lake sturgeon and the factors that threatened its survival, from overharvesting to the building of dams that prevented sturgeon from reaching spawning areas. The book also explains how government agencies, conservationists, Native nations, and citizen groups worked together to save the sturgeon pop lation in Wisconsin.

A great resource for classroom use, Saving Our Sturgeon contains maps, photos, and diagrams, plus a glossary of terms, a timeline of events, a Who’s Who list of individuals and groups featured in the book, and a bibliography that highlights kid-friendly sources for further learning. Saving Our Sturgeon celebrates the conservation success story about one remarkable (and plenty peculiar) species of fish and shows young readers how they, too, can help protect these incredible creatures.

The Marlin’s Fiery Eye and Other Tales from the Extraordinary World of Marine Fishes dives into the mystery and wonder of the daily lives of saltwater fishes. Joe E. Meisel introduces readers to the fascinating behaviors, remarkable adaptations, and complex life histories of the many species that call the oceans home. From the shallows, where penetrating sunlight encourages bright colors and extravagant patterns in fish, to the abyssal depths, where extreme conditions are countered in bizarre ways, this book illuminates the staggering diversity of ocean life. Discussions of unique characteristics and lifestyles are accompanied by narratives from scientists and fish lovers, with detailed i llustrations throughout. Meisel also explores the challenges facing global fisheries today, connecting the book’s featured species with questions and opportunities surrounding food demand, aquaculture, and sustainability.

Each fish has a story to tell in The Marlin’s Fiery Eye and Other Tales from the Extraordinary World of Marine Fishes, and through each story readers will discover an awe and a fascination for the oceanic inhabitants that we so rarely get to witness.

In conversation with Anne Moser.

Check out more Wisconsin Book Festival & Wisconsin Science Festival partner events here!