Maine > Ice Fishing Maine

Whitefish etc.IFW "Volume I Managing Maine’s Inland Fisheries into the Future"

(1/15) > >>

Anomaly:
Here's the Whitefish PartLAKE WHITEFISH
Coregonus clupeaformis
        Significant declines in the range and abundance of native lake whitefish have impacted locally popular winter sport fisheries and are threatening the species’ long-term sustainability. Viable populations are con- centrated in headwater lakes and ponds of the Allagash and Penobscot River drainages in north-central Maine. Waters in the St. Croix drainage in Washington County are also noted for whitefish populations. Distribution in southern and western Maine is limited to only a few lakes where limited available information indicates little to no recruitment. Lake whitefish are identified in Maine’s State Wildlife Action Plan as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
One unusual trait that is rarely found in other species but frequently seen among whitefish is the tendency to form dwarfed populations. Though still considered the same species, the dwarf ecotype of lake whitefish grows to a much smaller size, matures earlier (at age one or two), and has a much shorter lifespan.
Lakes and ponds containing Lake Whitefish (53 waterbodies)
The modern lake whitefish sport fishery grew in popularity in the early 1970s, coinciding with a decline in whitefish populations not thought to be directly related to fishing pressure. During the last planning period, concerted efforts to reverse whitefish popula- tion declines were undertaken, including promulgation of restrictive fishing regulations and implementing
a lake whitefish hatchery stocking program. Neither conservation measure proved successful. Available information suggests that negative interactions from populations of rainbow smelt introduced as prey/ forage for other popular sportfish (i.e., landlocked Atlantic salmon, togue, etc.) are likely responsible for recruitment failure in most lake whitefish populations. Other factors may also influence recruitment; for example, togue introduced into Sebago Lake appear
to have contributed to an observed decline in lake whitefish.
      INLAND FISHERIES AND HATCHERIES STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN 2021–2035 . VOLUME I 32
FEATURED SPORT FISH GOALS – LAKE WHITEFISH
Goals, Objectives & Conservation/Management Strategies
GOAL Conserve native populations of lake whitefish Assess the status and health of all known populations of lake whitefish
in Maine (High Priority)
• Develop an assessment plan to characterize population age structure and relative
abundance to establish a baseline for this planning period
Identify and implement strategies to reduce threats and protect lake whitefish (High Priority)
• Examine Department stocking and management programs to reduce potential impacts to lake whitefish populations, considerate of inter-specific competition, regulations, lake whitefish population abundance, angler use, and risk for new competing introductions
• Explore the merit of additional restrictive regulatory measures and other strategies to maintain existing remnant populations
• Identify populations that could be positively or negatively affected by climate change and develop strategies to mitigate effects, particularly among most at-risk populations
• Identify waters that may be candidates for chemical reclamation
• Investigate options to reduce smelt populations and their interactions with lake whitefish, including mechanical harvest, predation (sterile & nonsterile), and liberalized smelt harvest opportunities
• Monitor key environmental and land management practices that can influence habitat suitability
Increase public awareness and stewardship (High Priority)
• Develop outreach regarding threats (e.g., influence of illegal introductions of smelt)
• Increase angling use opportunity by creating fisheries that will also serve as “gene banks” • Use various outreach tools to highlight one of Maine’s less known native sportfish

woodchip:
The acidity of the water is directly related and no one wats to agree because it will take to long and bigger expense ,,Admit it!!

Anomaly:

--- Quote from: woodchip on Mar 10, 2022, 06:56 AM ---The acidity of the water is directly related and no one wats to agree because it will take to long and bigger expense ,,Admit it!!

--- End quote ---
It is definitely part of it, in some waters and to varying degrees. There are other impinging factors as noted.

woodchip:
Sebago lake they the local towns have allowed big Landfills within a short distance on lake. water runs from Landfills into lake is one of the biggest reasons PH is dropping, shortly after these landfills were in place the White fish and all other fish started their downhill growth rate. The easiest and most common complaint was blame Togue introduction, even though they all live together in other bodies of water, Great lakes etc.

Bourbon and Bass:

--- Quote from: nbourque on Mar 11, 2022, 07:23 AM ---The whitefish section is just as piss poor as the rest of that report.

--- End quote ---
There is a LOT of things they need to do better, like actually surveying lakes again. If you look through the lake survey maps, you see that most have only been recently done in the late 90's and some not since the 50's. If they aren't actually taking the time to study the waters and are instead relying on anecdotal info and 70 year old surveys, how can they effectively manage a watershed?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page