Status of Yellow Perch and Walleye Populations in Michigan Waters of Lake Eire,1994-98

摘要

We investigated the fish community and population dynamics of yellow perch Percaflavescens and walleye Stizostedion vitreum in Michigan waters of Lake Erie. This study was conducted from 1994 to 1998, but information from previous years is considered in the analyses. Results of index trap-net and gill-net surveys, catch-at-age analysis of survey and sport fishery data, and analysis of walleye tag-recapture data were examined. For yellow perch, index trap-net data suggested a decline in abundance, while catch-at-age analysis indicated a period of decline with a slight recovery of abundance after 1996. Catch-at-age analysis produced mean estimates for annual survival (0.55), instantaneous fishing mortality (0.19), and annual exploitation (0.14) for yellow perch in Michigan waters of Lake Erie. For walleye, index trap-net data revealed no trend in walleye abundance from 1994 to 1997.