(Great Lakes Fishery Commission)
The Lake Erie Committee has announced its recommended total allowable catch (TAC) of 11.081 million pounds of yellow perch and 4.027 million walleye for this season.
These recommended harvest levels represent a modest decrease in allowable yellow perch harvest and a modest increase in walleye harvest for 2014.
TAC recommendations are developed after thorough lakewide biological assessments, analysis, discussions, and consultations with stakeholders.
The Lake Erie Committee recommends TACs that are consistent with the status of Lake Erieís fish population while maintaining stable harvest levels. The individual provincial and state governments adhere to and implement the TAC recommendations consistent with their respective regulations and management objectives.
YELLOW PERCH
The Lake Erie Committee recommended a 2014 binational TAC of 11.081 million pounds of yellow perch, a 9% decrease from last yearís allocation of 12.237 million pounds. The proposed harvest level is based on biological assessmentsóconducted and analyzed by biologists from all jurisdictions on Lake Erieóthat showed a moderate decline in yellow perch biomass in the lake. Lake Erie Committee members together concluded that the harvestable stocks of yellow perch will be lower in 2014 than last year, necessitating a reduced TAC. The proposed TAC reflects the committeeís interest in maintaining stability in harvest while ensuring yellow perch sustainability.
Under the 2014 TAC recommendation, Ontario will receive 5.409 million pounds, Ohio 4.418 million pounds, Michigan 0.145 million pounds, New York 0.259 million pounds, and Pennsylvania 0.850 million pounds.
WALLEYE
The Lake Erie Committee set a 2014 walleye TAC of 4.027 million fish, compared to the TAC of 3.356 million fish in 2013. The increased TAC recommendation for 2014 reflects the committeeís goal to manage the lakewide fish stocks sustainably while integrating stakeholder input into the process. Walleye hatches have been generally poor in recent years, though some year classes, particularly those in 2010 and 2003 have been moderate to exceptional, contributing to the stability of the walleye fishery and allowing for an increased TAC over last year.
The Province of Ontario and the states of Ohio and Michigan share the TAC based on a formula of walleye habitat within each jurisdiction in the western and central basins of the lake. Under a 2014 TAC of 4.027 million fish, Ohio will be entitled to 2.058 million fish, Ontario 1.734 million fish, and Michigan 0.235 million fish. Because the majority of harvest comes from the western portion of Lake Erie, jurisdictions in the eastern end of the lake are outside the TAC area. Harvest limits in the eastern basin are established separately by Ontario, Pennsylvania, and New York and remain consistent with lakewide conditions and objectives.
Scientists and field biologists from all Lake Erie jurisdictions, meeting as the Walleye Task Group, share data and reach consensus on biological conditions.
The Lake Erie Committee comprises fishery managers from Michigan, New York, Ohio, Ontario and Pennsylvania. The committeeís work is facilitated by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a Canadian and U.S. agency on the Great Lakes. Each year the committee recommends a total allowable catch for walleye and yellow perch. Total allowable catch represents the number or weight of fish recommended to be caught by sport and commercial fishers without putting the fisheries at risk. The individual agencies implement the recommended total allowable catch. For more information, visit the Lake Erie Committee online at www.glfc.org/lec.