Movements of data-poor fishes in eastern Lake Erie

ELEDD

April 2018 - January 2021

Channel Catfish, Steelhead, and Brown Trout represent subordinate fisheries for which little to no data on in-lake movement or occupancy exists in Lake Erie. Because of this knowledge gap, managers do not know the extent to which these stocks represent shared resources among jurisdictions. We have tagged a limited number of each of these species using recycled tags to try to inform these knowledge gaps. This pilot project is designed to provide baseline information on general movement patterns and spawning site fidelity for these species. In addition, this work will determine the feasibility of an acoustic telemetry approach for answering these questions and determine if a larger scale project is warranted. This project will be accomplished via the existing GLATOS receiver network.

• Determine tag retention and post-tagging survival of Channel Catfish, Steelhead, and Brown Trout
• Describe in-lake movements of these species
• Where possible, determine the level of spawning site fidelity exhibited by these species

• Gaining an understanding of in-lake movements for species where little or no knowledge currently exists
• Determine the extent to which these species represent shared resources among management agencies

• Jason Robinson (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) - jason.robinson@dec.ny.gov
• James Markham (New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation)

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• Sport Fish Restoration Program
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation