For the love of suckers: scientific benefits of engaging volunteers to monitor migrations and advocate for native non-game fishes

Suckers (Catostomidae) are the most abundant migratory fishes in the Laurentian Great Lakes region, but they are understudied and underappreciated given their important roles in ecosystems. To overcome the lack of data for the species, we designed a citizen science program to engage volunteers in documenting the migration phenology of white suckers and longnose suckers across a latitudinal gradient. Beyond collecting data, participants in the program have become vigorous advocates for these species and their environments, allowing for peer-to-peer messaging that complements traditional science communication. Seven years of data from our network of volunteers reveal that temperature is the primary trigger for sucker spawning migration; cumulative degree days over 6.3 °C is the best predictor of migration timing across sites and years. Based on our experience, we provide readily transferrable strategies for soliciting and retaining volunteers as well as ensuring high data quality standards. Our citizen science network exemplifies the untapped potential for involving the public in fish conservation activities.