The Ultimate Responsible Fishing Quiz

Studies show that commercial over-fishing is the major cause depleting fish populations

Recreational fishing makes up only 12 percent of the global take.

What a waste! Think how many people could be fed by half a million fish.

By fishing responsibly, recreational fishermen can help conserve local fish populations and habitats.

Operating your boat in shallow water may chop up underwater vegetation that many fish species and crustaceans depend on for food and shelter.

Simply operating your boat with care isn't always enough. Besides following posted wake warnings and avoiding very shallow environments, you should also restrict your use of towed fishing gear and anchors or mooring chains that can tear up a lake bottom.

Lost sinkers, often made of toxic lead, are especially problematic, because they're easily mistaken for food by animals.

Empty beer cans, lure packages and even gum wrappers spoil the environment, dirty the water and pose choking risks to wildlife.

The garbage left behind by irresponsible fishermen can spoil the ecosystem by driving away fish -- not to mention other fishermen -- and may lead landowners to ban fishing altogether.

Mercury contamination from various sources of pollution is of such concern that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued recommended limitations on the amount of fish and shellfish people eat.

Fish invaders cost the United States more than $100 billion dollars each year.

Rinsing off after a day at the lake helps to prevent the transfer of foreign organisms to another site.

To reduce the risk of transferring non-native species, always rinse off gear, clothing and your boat thoroughly before leaving a site, and be sure to drain all the water from your things.

Invading species can displace native ones by outcompeting them for resources, thus altering the species composition and balance of the ecosystem.

Many bodies of water are now infested with baitfish that are outcompeting the native fish for living space and resources.

Some invasive species aren't even visible to the naked eye, such as the deadly largemouth bass virus (LMBV) and golden algae, which are easily spread from one body of water to another.

Ideally, hold onto only the small or medium-sized ones, so the more mature fish can spawn again and replenish the population.

Use barbless hooks to minimize damage.

If you're interested in catching and releasing, do the fish a favor and handle them as gently as possible. Avoid touching the gills and removing protective slime, and return them to the water quickly to avoid exhausting them.

Golden algae are easily spread from one body of water to another.