Good water quality, which is highly dependent on land use practices, is imperative to strong fisheries. Land based planning and activities in many cases are largely detached from their direct implications on water quality which pose significant challenges to sustainably managing commercial, recreational and ecologically important species. These issues are evident in freshwater and saltwater systems alike. For example, in the United States, coastal areas represent less than 17% of available land area and serve as home to over 53% of the population. In Michigan, a 12% population increase is projected to lead to a 63-87% increase in the amount of land devoted to urba use. The concentration of commercial and recreational activities associated with our intense use of lakes, rivers, and coastal areas is taking a toll on the fishery benefits we can obtain from these systems. Many scientific diagnoses of declining fisheries species and their habitats along U.S. coasts point to upland and tributary sources near areas with increasing human population, development, and expansion of impervious surfaces. Resulting stressors, such as increased nutrient input, habitat loss, changing hydrological patterns, and exacerbated erosion are negatively impacting fish health and sustainability. As fisheries managers are faced with managing ever changing populations of fish, a broader approach may be necessary for proper management.   Ecosystem based approaches must incorporate land use processes by better understanding and addressing the impacts of land use patterns, planning, and decision making. This symposium will assemble case studies to provide examples and explain the inherent link between land use, water quality and fisheries. The findings and presentations will help improve our understanding of factors that influence resources in coastal, lentic, lotic and estuarine systems. We will explore the actions taken, available tools, community engagement, and discuss cross organizational approaches needed to manage fisheries beyond the aquatic zone.