The Fish Community in Lake Erie

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Abstract
Lake Erie, because of its shallowness and the fertility of its drainage basin, is the most productive of the Laurentian Great Lakes. The fish community is diverse (114 species representing 24 families) and is dominated by mesothermal and warmwater species. Although commercial fish production has been fairly consistent (average annual yield of 23,000 metric tons since 1915) there has been a dramatic change in species composition during the last 150 yr. Lake sturgeon, lake trout, lake herring, lake whitefish, sauger, and blue pike have virtually disappeared. Commercial production of medium-priced species such as yellow perch and white bass has increased and lower-valued species such as rainbow smelt, alewife, and freshwater drum have become more dominant in the fishery. The cultural stresses deemed largely responsible for these changes are, in approximate order of effect, an intensive commercial fishery, nutrient loading, the introduction of nonnative species, tributary and shoreline restructuring, erosion and siltation, and the introduction of toxic materials. The effects of these stresses on the environment and species composition are discussed.The current status and future of the remaining commercial species are considered in the light of past and present effects of the cultural stresses. The joint efforts of the United States and Canada to improve water quality and to control and reduce nutrient loading should lead to an improvement in the environment in the near future. Lake Erie is well suited for the production of valuable percid species but unless a strong effort is made to regulate exploitation the future of the commercial fishery is precarious.

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