What's New Walleye limits to have little impact on 2001 fishing Toledo Blade (4/12) International walleye quotas for Lake Erie have been cut by more than half for the next three years in a cooperative effort to restore sagging stocks of the lake's most popular fish.
Troubled waters for sport fish Great Lakes Radio Consortium (4/9) Fewer salmon, trout and bass are being added to the Great Lakes for recreational fishing because of changes in the ecosystems that are making it harder for the fish to survive.
Layoffs begin for Lake Erie fishery The Windsor Star (4/9) Fishermen in the world's largest freshwater commercial fishery are reeling from the news of large government-imposed conservation cuts.
Wisconsin DNR wants to reduce perch harvesting Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (4/2) Because of declining fish populations in Green Bay, the Wisconsin DNR wants to reduce sport fishing and commercial harvests of yellow perch in Green Bay.
Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA) This inter-tribal management body -- formerly the Chippewa Ottawa Treaty Fishery Management Authority -- oversees regulation of the 1836 treaty fishery, which covers ceded land in Michigan and ceded waters of lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron.
Overview
The commercial and sport fishery on the Great Lakes is collectively valued at more than $4 billion annually. The fishery consists of a blend of native and introduced species, some of which are regularly restocked. Common catches include lake trout, salmon, walleye and white fish. The greatest commercial fishing harvests were recorded in 1889 and 1899 at about 147 million pounds. Since then, the fishery has been threatened on three fronts: overfishing, pollution and nonindigenous invasive species. Recent years have seen a major resurgence as walleye fisheries recover in Lake Erie and new salmon fisheries develop in Lake Ontario. The region's inland waters offer many fishing opportunities as well. Blue-ribbon trout streams attract fly fishing enthusiasts and lakes offer a variety of fish, including crappie, bluegill, perch, pike and large- and small-mouth bass.
General Resources TEACH Great Lakes: Fish and Fishing In the Great Lakes region you'll find one of the world's largest freshwater fisheries. Learn about familiar fish species in the lakes, threats to the fish population, and tips on how to keep safe.
Let's Fish Ontario! Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Provides information of fishing in Ontario, such as license and regulations guidelines, fishing statistics, exotic species control, and how to protect fish and the fishing industry.
Data National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories Office of Science and Technology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency A searchable database of state, tribal, and federally issued fish consumption advisories in the United States, District of Columbia, four U.S. Territories, and 12 Canadian provinces and territories.
The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) NBII is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources. Great Lakes related information includes invasive species, fisheries and biodiversity.
Fish of the Great Lakes University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Color illustrations or photographs and descriptions of many Great Lakes fish species.
Fishes of Wisconsin, by George C. Becker Wisconsin Sea Grant Now available online, Becker discusses Wisconsin waters and fisheries, and gives detailed species accounts of major Wisconsin fish families, including photographs.
Great Lakes Lake Sturgeon U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service This site provides information and a network of links to lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) research conducted by a number of U.S. and Canadian agencies and universities in the Great Lakes region of North America.
Illinois Natural History Survey Fish Collection Illinois Natural History Survey This collection contains approximately 800,000 catalogued specimens, which makes it about the 15th largest collection of preserved fishes, and the 6th largest collection of Neotropical fishes in North America. Represented are about 170 families and over 2,400 species which are all searchable through the web site's database.
Nonindigenous Fish of the Great Lakes University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Color illustrations or photographs and descriptions of nonindigenous fish species.
Trout and Salmon identification guide Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council Color illustrations show markings useful to identify various salmon and trout.
Commercial Fishing Reports U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Great Lakes Science Center Total pounds and dollar value of commercial catch in U.S. waters of the Great Lakes by year, state, lake and species.
Fisheries Management Great Lakes Fishery Commission Information on fish harvest, habitat, exotic species as well as various databases.
Institute for Fisheries Research Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) The IFR conducts research on fisheries and other aquatic resources of Michigan.
Research Program Great Lakes Fishery Commission Under the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission has responsibility to formulate a coordinated research program between the United States and Canada.
News Weekly Fishery News Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council A weekly update on news about the fishery in the Great Lakes basin.