By: Lynn Mattes

During a meeting of the Outreach Committee in the fall of 2024, as we were penciling out content ideas for 2025, one committee member mentioned seeing a “bird of the month” post from another organization. That simple observation sparked a conversation that quickly took on a life of its own—and spawned (pun intended) what would become our monthly Underwater Wonder feature.

What began as a tentative idea for a “fish of the month” soon evolved into something broader and more inclusive. We wanted to create space not just for finfish, but also for shellfish, invertebrates, marine mammals, aquatic vegetation, and the many other organisms that collectively, and appropriately, fall under the wide umbrella of “fisheries.” The underwater world is far richer and more diverse than any single category can capture, and our content should reflect that.

With that goal in mind, we invited members of the Outreach Committee and Board of Directors to pick a month and highlight one of their favorite species. The requests were intentionally loose. The species could be one they currently work with, something they studied as part of a degree program, or simply an organism they’ve always found fascinating and wanted to share with others.

The result was a remarkable lineup. Featured species ranged from flatfish to eels to tunas, spanning habitats from the high seas to nearshore waters to freshwater systems. Together, they showcased not only the incredible diversity of underwater life, but also the wide-ranging interests, expertise, and experiences of members of this group.

On a personal level, participating in the Underwater Wonder series gave me an unexpected gift. It offered me a chance to step out of the project management and policy-focused roles I currently inhabit and reconnect with the curiosity that first drew me to this field. Digging back into species biology, ecology, and life history was a welcome reminder of how much joy I find in learning about aquatic life, and sharing that enthusiasm with others (see related blog).

That, ultimately, is what the Underwater Wonder series is all about: celebrating the diversity beneath the surface, and the people who care deeply about it.

Starry Flounder

I started off the year highlighting the starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) a common species of flatfish from coastal and estuarine waters of the North Pacific ocean.

Rebellious Diva

For February, the rebellious diva (Rebellatrix divaricerca), a large tuna-like coelacanth, was highlighted.  As no common name actually exists for this species, we took some liberties in giving it one. 

River Chub

March brought us to the river chub (Nocomis micropogon), a common species of gravel mound-building minnow found in freshwaters across the eastern U.S.

American Paddlefish

The prehistoric American paddlefish (Polyodon spatula) was highlighted in April.  This species is considered a living fossil, with a lineage dating back over 300 million years.

Whiteleg shrimp

In May, we highlighted our first invertebrate, the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), the most consumed seafood species in the U.S.  

Gray snapper

In June, our Board President chose to highlight Gray snapper (Latjanus griseus), also called mangrove snappers or “mangos,” which are a popular game and food fish found throughout the Gulf, Western Atlantic, and Caribbean Sea.

Sea Lamprey

For September, our Board Vice President chose to highlight the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a distinctive, ancient, eel-shaped fish with a skeleton made of cartilage rather than bone.

American eel

In October, our Board Secretary/Treasurer highlighted the American eel (Anguilla rostrata), the only catadromous species, one that migrates from freshwater to the ocean to spawn, in North America.

Polka-dot Batfish

The November highlight was the polka-dot batfish (Ogcocephalus cubifrons), a fish that uses its modified pelvic fins to “walk” across the sea floor.

Yellowfin Mojarra

Our final species highlight of the year was the yellowfin mojarra (Gerres cinereus), a small inshore marine fish that feeds by using its unique mouth to suck up sand and sift out invertebrates.

We hope you enjoyed learning about these Underwater Wonders as much as we enjoyed sharing them with all of you.  Did you have a favorite, or learn something new?