Pennsylvania’s Local Walleye Spawning Stocks Contribution To Local Population and The Entire Eastern Basin

EBWSC

April 2018 - April 2021

In conjunction with the “Do Discrete Spawning Stocks Contribute Differentially the Lake Erie’s Walleye Population”, Pennsylvania is looking at local spawning stocks within their waters. Little is known about Pennsylvania’s natural reproduction and this will afford an opportunity to monitor it. Spawning site fidelity is also an important factor to this project as well as exploitation. In an effort to streamline regulations and be more in sync with other jurisdictions, this study gives the opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of having a closed season during the spawn of this recreationally, commercially, and ecologically valuable species

• Determine if a robust spawning aggregation is present near shore in Pennsylvania
• Determine if Spawning site fidelity is strong and maintained by tagged fish
• Determine an exploitation rate on this stock during this vulnerable time of the year
• Determine longevity of use of the spawning sites to indicate potential length of fishing restriction

• Understanding localized spawning off the shores of Pennsylvania will give us the ability to adapt regulations around the closed season as well as give us a better estimate of population size of resident fish.

• Mark Haffley (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission) - mhaffley@pa.gov
• Charles Murray (Pennsylvania Fish And Boat Commission)
• Michael Hosack (Pennsylvania Fish And Boat Commission)

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
• Michigan State University
• Pennsylvania Fish And Boat Commission
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources
• United States Geological Survey
• Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources And Forestry
• Ohio State University
• Great Lakes Fishery Commission

• PA Fish and Boat Commission Association
• Erie PA Charter Boat Association
• Save Our Native Species (S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie)
• Erie Pa Sportfishing Association