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Fisheries
National Sea Grant Goals: (1) Develop an ecosystem perspective in renewable resource management; (2) understand the ecological changes effected by exotic aquatic species; (3) restore habitat and ecological conditions required by native species, and (4) understand ecological variability and its role in resource management practices.
The fisheries of the Great Lakes have been strongly influenced by ecological changes brought about by deliberate as well as unintentional introductions of exotic species. Sea lampreys contributed to the collapse of native fish populations. Alewife and smelt replaced the native forage fishes. Thriving recreational fisheries have developed around the introduced Pacific salmon species. New invaders—such as zebra mussels, round goby, ruffe and white perch—pose different and equally significant challenges. Key research challenges include developing ways to control the spread of exotics, creative methods for reducing their adverse ecological effects, and the combination of conceptual and analytical tools required to evaluate the future of fishery restoration efforts.
Wisconsin priorities in this theme include the development of methods and models to improve management of Great Lakes commercial and recreational fisheries from a wholeecosystem perspective, and identification of the factors and conditions necessary for rehabilitation of self-sustaining populations of lake trout, yellow perch and other native fish species.
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