Updated 2023-12-07 19:44:16
Lake Ontario -> 1.0 Nearshore Zone Goal -> Walleye
Reporting Interval
2014 - 2019
Area
Meeting Target?
Meets
Indicator Trend
No trend
Confidence?
High
Maintaining or increasing fisheries, populations and recruitment of Walleye
The indicator for Walleye fisheries, populations, and recruitment was met in the current reporting period.
The major recreational fishery for Walleye in the Bay of Quinte maintained catch rates similar to the previous reporting period other than a increased catch rate in 2017 (Figure 3). Relative abunance remained stable in the eastern basin (Ontario and New York waters) and the Bay of Quinte (Figure 1). Recruitment varied annually, as expected, but the average catch per unit effort (CPUE) increased from the previous reporting period (2008-2013) by 18% (Figure 2). As highlighted in previous State of Lake Ontario report, there is no expectation that the Walleye population will return to the high levels of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Figure 1. Catch per unit effort (fish per gillnet) of Walleye in gillnets set overnight in the eastern basin (New York and Ontario waters) and the Bay of Quinte, 1992-2019.
Figure 2. Walleye young-of-the-year (YOY) catch per unit effort (CPUE, fish/trawl tow) in bottom trawls towed for 6 min in the Bay of Quinte during summer, 1992-2019.
Figure 3. Trends in Walleye Catch Rate (CPUE, fish/hr), 1992-2019, for the open-water recreational fishery on the Bay of Quinte.
Methodology
Catch per unit effort was calculated for gillnets set overnight during the summer (June-August) in eastern Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. For the eastern basin of Lake Ontario, data is presented for Lake Ontario waters and New York waters.
For the Bay of Quinte and Ontario waters of the eastern basin, a unit of effort was standardized to represent one gillnet gang of 10 monofilament mesh panels (mesh sizes ranging from 1.5-6 inches) each 15.2 meters long and 2.4 meters high. In the Bay of Quinte, two sites were used, Hay Bay (set at 8 meters and 13 meters) and Big Bay (set at 5 meters). In Ontario waters of the eastern basin, three depth stratified sites were used, Melville Shoal, Grape Island and Flatt Point (depths included 7.5, 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, and 27.5 meters). Mean CPUE was taken across sites and areas before being averaged by year. Detailed information can be found in OMNRF, 2022.
In New York waters of the eastern basin, nets were set from 3.7-30.5 meters of water, distributed among three depth strata and five geographic strata to ensure no larger basins weremissed. Gillnet gangs consisted of nine monofilament mesh panels (mesh sizes ranging from 2-6 inches) each 15.2 meters long and 2.44 meters high. Depth-stratified CPUEs are presented, with catches weighted by relative area represented by each depth zone. Detailed information can be found in Goretzke, 2021.
Recruitment was assessed by calculating catch of age-0 (young of year - YOY) per standard bottom trawl (six minute tow). Bottom trawling occurred in the Bay of Quinte across six sites (Trenton, Big Bay, Belleville, Deseronto, Hay Bay and Conway) with one to four replicate trawls made per visit.
Recreational fishery trends were assessed through an open water angler survey in the Bay of Quinte. The fishery was monitored from Walleye opening weekend (first weekendin May) to summer (end of August). On water boat counts were taken and interviews were conducted to assess effort, harvest and catch. Catch rate was calculated as the number of Walleye caught per angling hour.
Other Resources
OMNRF (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry). 2022. Lake Ontario fish communities and fisheries: 2021 annual report of the Lake Ontario Management Unit. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Picton, ON, Canada.
Goretzke, J.A. 2021. 2021 eastern basin of Lake Ontario warmwater fisheries assessment, 1976-2021. In 2021 annual report, Bureau of Fisheries Lake Ontario Unit and St. Lawrence River Unit to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s Lake Ontario Committee. Section 4. NY State Dept. Environ. Conserv., Cape Vincent, NY.
Contributing Author(s)
- E. Brown - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
- S. Beech - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry