National American Paddlefish Day 2023

I've never seen an American paddlefish in person. This is likely a function of a lack of sportmanship in my life, i.e., I am not one to WANT to go fishing ... EVER.

My interest in this fish has more to do with the fact that it is a prehistoric freshwater species and as such is due our protection from people who would seek to have their way with them to the point of extinction.

The Chinese paddlefish was declared extinct in 2019, a victim being heavily overfished in all stages of growth by a relentless culture of selfish people who cared only for themselves in the moment. Immediate gratification overrode nonexistent efforts at conservation.
 

This leaves only the American paddlefish upon the Earth.

National American Paddlefish Day was founded under the auspices of the Shreveport Aquarium in an effort to bring the plight of the paddlefish to light and attempt to protect their populations and habitats.

Let us hope that this animal doesn't go the way of so many other species which went extinct at the hands of people.