US EPA

6450533 

Journal Article 

Lake Eries commercial fishery: changes from past to present 

Belore, MLL 

2005 

Lake Eries commercial fishery began in 1795. Since that time the commercial fishery has undergone significant changes in the species caught and the methods used to catch them. The changes in the fish community have been primarily due to man induced factors such as fishing and industrialization. The early fishery in Lake Erie focused mainly on highly valued fish such as lake trout, lake herring, and lake whitefish. When these species declined the fishery changed its focus to medium valued species walleye and yellow perch. Low valued, introduced species such as rainbow smelt and white perch have also become targets of the commercial fishery. In the past, commercial fisheries were common in both Canadian and U.S. waters of Lake Erie. However, the commercial fishery is now largely restricted to Canadian waters, with only a small amount of commercial fishing in the U.S. The current commercial fishery in Lake Erie depends principally on walleye and yellow perch which are managed by consensus through an international committee. 

; Historical account; Commercial fishing; Industrialization; Depleted stocks; Introduced species; Freshwater fish; Methodology; catches; Lakes; Conferences; Fisheries; committees; Prediction; Fishing; Perch; Trout; walleye; Lake Fisheries; Perca flavescens; Freshwater/