Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Codfish Are Becoming Greatly Reduced in Size. An Additional Thought. Is it possible for humans to 'cause' an evolutionary process? Nonsense! Impossible! But wait. Three foot Eastern Baltic Codfish have been harvested for centuries. But in the last few decades, reduced size of fish have been continually reported. In 1996 their size was 3 feet; in 2019, half that size; now one fits in two hands. Is this due to climate change or to fishing activity? Using larger nets, the smaller fish escaped easily; an advantage being small. After a fishing ban in 2019, the genetics of the fish maintained their small size. Upon examining otoliths (from the inner ear) collected between 1996 and 2019, They demonstrated that the growth rings showed slower size increase. In addition, the DNA corroborated that same conclusion. Ever-smaller parent fish are generating ever-smaller offspring. This indicates that the cods' evolution is pressured externally. The scientists conclude that this evolutionary process is driven by human activity. They conclude that, "This is scientifically fascinating, but ecologically deeply concerning." Frank Maurer 28 July 2025 1115 Hours.