Spawning Site Contribution and Movements of Lake Whitefish in Northwestern Lake Michigan

Session: 11. - Acoustic Telemetry Applications in the Great Lakes

Daniel Isermann, USGS-Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, [email protected]
Daniel Dembkowski, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, [email protected]
Tom Binder, Michigan State University-Hammond Bay Biological Station, [email protected]
Hansen Scott, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
David Caroffino, Tribal Coordination Unit, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Charles Krueger, CSIS, Michigan State University, [email protected]
Christopher Vandergoot, USGS - Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]

Abstract

Lake whitefish support important commercial and recreational fisheries on Lake Michigan, with the northern third of the lake supporting the majority of harvest. Previous genetic analyses indicated lake whitefish harvest in northwest Lake Michigan was largely supported (? 75%) by fish assigned to Big Bay de Noc (BBDN) and North and Moonlight bays (NMB) genetic stocks. While previous tagging suggested lake whitefish show relatively high spawning site fidelity, determining whether these two stocks are functionally discrete remains an important question for fishery managers. Additionally, lake whitefish assigning to multiple stocks now spawn in tributaries to Green Bay (primarily the Fox and Menominee rivers) where spawning had not been observed for nearly a century; the movements of these fish are largely unknown. We implanted acoustic transmitters in 400 lake whitefish at four different spawning locations (BBDN, NMB, Fox and Menominee rivers) during November 2017. Use of acoustic telemetry coupled with genomics will allow us to test current understanding of lake whitefish stock structure and describe stock-specific movements and spatial distribution relative to fishing effort. Use of telemetry and high-reward tags will also allow us to estimate mortality rates for these stocks, which are needed for determining safe harvest levels.   

1. Keyword
fish management

2. Keyword
Lake Michigan

3. Keyword
fish behavior

4. Additional Keyword
whitefish