Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Maintain Walleye and Yellow Perch populations that support sustainable commercial and recreational fisheries.

The walleye population was at high abundance with a sustainable fishery during 2021-2025, providing high catch rates for commercial and sport fisheries. Yellow perch populations and fisheries declined in the west and central basins of Lake Erie and were stable in the east basin. Implementation of Harvest Control Rules in the Yellow Perch Management Plan resulted in decreased quotas to support sustainability for future generations. Poor recruitment continues to delay recovery of the central basin yellow perch population.

Maintain a White Bass population that permits sustainable commercial and recreational exploitation.

The white bass population and fishery remained sustainable with observed declines in abundance and harvest during 2021-2025.

Manage Lake Whitefish fishery harvest to ensure persistence in the system, recognizing increasingly challenging environmental conditions for this species.

The lake whitefish population and fishery remained sustainable with increasing abundance and evidence of successful hatches during 2021-2025.

Suppress abundance of sea lamprey to levels that will not impede achievement of any fish community objective, especially for coldwater species of low abundance.

Sea lamprey abundance declined during 2021-2025 and the control target was achieved in three of the five years. Sea lamprey wounds declined during 2021–2025 and the lake trout wounding target was achieved in two of the five years.