North Hunt and Fish Club

Great Lakes whitefish in decline – Ontario OUT of DOORS

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Whitefish numbers are down in some elements of the Nice Lakes, and it’s believed zebra and quagga mussels are in charge.

Fish populations fluctuate with water high quality, meals internet adjustments, and introduction of recent species, MNR spokesperson Mike Fenn mentioned. “Components range, however the arrival of zebra and quagga mussels throughout the Nineteen Eighties performed a giant half, as they contributed to elevated water readability in some lakes, affecting progress of aquatic crops, the meals internet dynamic, and in flip, the fish neighborhood,” he mentioned. “Zebra mussels can change the motion of vitamins in Nice Lakes fish communities and doubtlessly scale back fish manufacturing. Water readability has additionally been noticed to extend due to the filtering exercise of zebra mussels. This will result in destructive shifts within the fish neighborhood.”

Whitefish populations throughout the Nice Lakes have been affected in a different way. In Lake Huron, over the past 20 years, whitefish have declined in various levels.

Numbers have additionally slid in Lake Ontario, and stay at a low, however steady, stage. Whitefish are nonetheless commercially harvested in jap Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte.

In Lake Superior, whitefish are steady besides in Nipigon Bay and jap Lake Superior. Invasive mussels have been just lately present in Nipigon, however their impression is just not identified.

Lake Erie’s has additionally seen a whitefish decline in recent times. Industrial harvest of the species there ceased in 2013.

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