Is the Lake Erie Yellow Perch Heading Toward Extinction?

Systematic warming has created dramatic changes in the world’s waterways. Some of these include a geometric rise in shark attacks on the East Coast of the United States, frightening losses of coral reefs, strange new whale behavior, and unimaginable storms along both ocean coasts. The Great Lakes have not escaped these changes and one of the most disturbing shifts has been noted in commercial and sports fishing data. Anglers report that yellow perch have been more difficult to catch and at the same time walleye (yellow pile) are being harvested in record numbers. Is there a connection? Could Lake Erie’s catch diversity be at risk? Could the yellow perch disappear? As unimaginable as this may seem similar losses have happened before. The story of Lake Erie’s blue pike and cisco may provide a warning; a lesson for all of us to pay attention.
Dr. David Frew presents both disturbing and hopeful data drawn from Lake Erie’s historic harvest totals. Dr. Frew is a researcher who has worked in Ontario with the Ministry of Natural Resources. His book, “Fortune & Fury” (co-written with Jerry Skrypzak), is a definitive history of commercial fishing on Lake Erie.