Lake Superior fish community and fisheries, 2001–2022: An era of stability

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2024.102414
• Publication Date: 2024-08-22T21:15:11Z
• Authors: Cory A. Goldsworthy; Dray D. Carl; Shawn P. Sitar; Michael J. Seider; Mark R. Vinson; Ian Harding; Thomas C. Pratt; Paul P. Piszczek; Eric K. Berglund; Samuel B. Michaels; Jessica M. Barber

Lake Superior is the least anthropogenically impacted of Laurentian Great Lakes ecosystems, yet dramatic changes to fish community are evident. Previous published works chronicled those and efforts rehabilitate through year 2000. Here, we review 2022, where post-rehabilitation stability was driven by lean lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush namaycush) as most abundant piscivore in nearshore waters, siscowet siscowet) offshore a healthy, intact assemblage native prey species, which created ecological redundancies helped stabilize food web. Stocking non-native salmonines reduced 74%, populations Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) coho kisutch) were maintained natural reproduction. Despite stocking, yield from recreational fisheries stable. Likewise, developments population modeling led evaluations refinement management strategies that create for trout, whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), cisco artedi) fisheries. With rehabilitation achieved, focus shifted toward brook fontinalis), sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), walleye (Sander vitreus). continued control efforts, sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) abundance increased considerably, estimates killed lampreys averaged 2.65 million kg annually. Environmental have benefited fostered thermal habitats more suitable organisms, posing new challenges managers researchers. Nevertheless, contemporary will help provide resilience future perturbations ecosystem.