Minnesota Fisherman Proudly Flaunts Rare Golden Bowfin Kill, Earns Flak on Social Media

A fisherman from Minnesota proudly documented his accomplishment of killing a rare golden bowfin on social media.

Some applauded his catch, while others berated him.

Photos of a fisherman posing holding an elusive golden bowfin he had just killed sparked a discussion on social media, with some people congratulating him on his once-in-a-lifetime catch and many others raising questions about the morality of killing such a rare marine life.

The latter group includes Solomon David, an aquatic ecologist who is also an assistant professor from Nicholls State University and the Principle Investigator at GarLab.

David claimed in a Newsweek interview that he had never seen a golden bowfin of this kind in person or photographs, saying it was extremely rare.

Bowfin vs. Golden Bowfin

David claimed that the bowfin is a species of freshwater fish that is indigenous to North America.

The species can be found from southern Canada down to Louisiana, Texas, and Florida in slow-moving and vegetated waters in the southern and eastern United States.

He explained that the fish that the bowfisher shot is not an endangered species in Minnesota; rather, it is an extremely rare genetic variation of the species or "xanthic" morph.

A genetic mutation known as xanthochromism causes the animal to have yellow pigments in place of some of its natural colors.

The animal becomes yellow or gold-colored as a result of this condition.

Animal Fun Facts describes Xanthochromism as an uncommon genetic variant or a form of albinism. These creatures have a light color, but they are not white because they lack pigment.

Black and brown animals appear yellow, orange, and red because the red and yellow pigments are unaffected.

"Xanthos" is a Greek word that translates to "yellow." Only fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds exhibit xanthochromism.

David said that because they stand out from predators, these people hardly ever mature into adults.

It is even more unusual because this adult "gold" bowfin managed to avoid its natural predators and outwit the odds until the bowfisher shot it.

Bow fishing, in contrast to conventional rod and reel fishing, always results in the death of the fish that are caught.

Bowfishing

David claimed that bowfishing is a booming sport that, regrettably, frequently targets native species that are "non-game," like this bowfin.

The fish are frequently harvested indefinitely, and they are frequently either composted or thrown away rather than being consumed.

David explained why incidents such as this one could be a problem.

He said that even non-game species of native freshwater fish need to be conserved.

In their native ecosystems, fish like the bowfin play an important role in maintaining equilibrium as predators. Unrestricted bowfishing is not sustainable, so harvest caps should be set up before the population of the species is possibly past the point of recovery.

He continued to say that a good place to start is by educating people about the importance of native fish species in their habitats.

Native predatory fish, such as the bowfin, assist in preserving ecosystem balance by controlling prey fish populations.

For native "non-game" species, better regulations are required, particularly harvest limits.

Some of these species are not well understood, and more research is needed to determine the point at which the population may no longer be able to recover.

Sustainable Fishing and Other Ways to Appreciate Marine Life

Aquatic native animals may still be appreciated without harming their ecosystem, according to David.

He advised going to state or national parks because they are great places to see aquatic wildlife, and many of these reserves have trails that help keep people and animals safely apart.

The public zoo or aquarium is another excellent place to see marine life.

Newsweek reported that some species in zoos and aquariums are hard to find in the wild.

According to the National Geographic, the future populations of marine and freshwater wildlife are assured by sustainable fishing.

Numerous fish and invertebrate species can be found in aquatic environments, the majority of which are used as food.