Fish are the ultimate integrators of ecosystem changes as their diversity and productivity reflect changes in the composition of the airshed, the structure and function of upland ecosystems, and ground and surface water quantity and quality. To achieve healthy and productive fisheries, the integrity of freshwater ecosystems, as well as their connectivity to the landscape and to humans must be assured to better mediate the impacts associated with the ever-changing environmental conditions.  The link between the quantity and quality of freshwater and sustainable fisheries makes it imperative for researchers and managers to compare stressors on these resources among the principally agriculturally dominated, upper-Midwest landscapes to adaptively manage our fisheries for the benefit of both the ecosystem and society.  Only through understanding the requirements and benefits of healthy fish, healthy habitats and healthy people will sustainability of fisheries and aquatic ecosystems be ensured and economic and social prosperity be enhanced. The overarching goal of this symposium will be to determine the factors that facilitate or hinder fisheries sustainability in the United States.   More specifically, this symposium will address some of the most important stressors to fish populations, including: 1) climate change impacts to aquatic ecosystems; 2) shifting land use; 3) recent invasions of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in the Great Lakes region; 4) ecosystems effects of invasive species; and 5) the impacts of governance systems and policies on aquatic resources.   Presentations and discussions will focus on how these stressors impact fish habitat, communities, and production dynamics and will foster partnerships for research and solution development for conserving and restoring sustainable and economically viable aquatic ecosystems and fishery resources.