In this extra geeky DEEP DIVE episode, Guest Host Eric Palkovacs, Director of Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, sits down with Malin Pinsky, UC Santa Cruz Professor, to explore how human activities drive real-time evolutionary changes in fish populations.

Malin reveals genetic evidence showing rapid alterations in species like Atlantic cod due to fishing. Discover how ancient DNA helps unravel fisheries-induced evolution and the surprising findings that challenge traditional models. Learn about innovative genomic techniques and solutions for sustainable fisheries, crucial for marine conservation and understanding human impact on evolution.

00:00 The influence of fishing and climate change on fish evolution

04:14 How fishing causes evolutionary changes, favoring early maturation

06:54 Evidence of size and age shifts in wild fish populations

10:23 The collapse of Atlantic cod and its evolutionary implications

14:11 Discovering no large genomic changes in cod despite phenotypic shifts

19:13 Implications of evolution for fishery recovery strategies

29:00 Strategies for managing fisheries within a changing climate landscape

35:03 Local research efforts in Santa Cruz focusing on kelp forest adaptation