Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Updated 2026-08-25 14:47:08

Lake Erie-2021-2025 -> 3.0 Rehabilitation Species -> Lake Trout Abundance

Maintain viable adult lake trout biomass with a goal of documenting evidence of natural reproduction

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) played a historically important ecological role as the primary native coldwater predator in Lake Erie and supported large commercial fisheries. By 1965 overfishing, excessive nutrients, and exotic species invasions (in particular the parasitic sea lamprey) led to the extirpation of lake trout from Lake Erie. Now supported completely by stocking that has occurred since 1978, the population supports a trophy fishery in the deep, offshore waters of the east basin during the summer months and nearshore areas of the east and central basins in the spring and fall.

Reestablishing a self-sustaining lake trout population continues to be the primary rehabilitation goal in Lake Erie. The annual stocking goal was raised from 200,000 yearlings to 280,000 yearlings in 2022, but was only achieved in 1 of the 4 years (Figure 1). The hatchery shortfall in 2022 was due to Ontario transitioning to the higher stocking target, while the shortfall in 2025 was due to a power outage and disease issues at the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery. Finger Lakes (Seneca) and Lake Champlain are the most prevalent strains currently stocked, with Slate Island being stocked only in 2021. The population achieved the rehabilitation plan target of at least ten or more different age classes throughout the 2021-2025 reporting period and older fish (age 10+) continue to increase in abundance. Adult (age 5+) lake trout relative abundance (used as an indicator of adult biomass) achieved the rehabilitation plan target of at least 2.0 fish/net in only one of the five years but exhibited a steady trend (Figure 2). Average adult relative abundance during the reporting period was 1.6 fish/net. For the first time since extirpation, natural reproduction was detected in New York waters, with wild lake trout fry being collected in all 5 years across 10 different spawning reefs. An acoustic telemetry study conducted during 2016-2020 continues to provide valuable information on movements, spawning locations, and spawning habitat use that will guide future rehabilitation efforts.

Figure 1. Lake trout (in yearling equivalents) stocked by all jurisdictions in Lake Erie, 1980-2025. The current stocking goal is 280,000 yearlings per year.

Figure 2. Relative abundance (number per net, weighted by area) of adult (age-5-and-older) lake trout sampled in assessment gill nets in the east basin of Lake Erie, 1992-2025. The adult rehabilitation target is at least 2.0 fish per net.