Lake Herring
Lake herring is recovering from previous overfishing and the impacts of non-native, introduced species.
Consumer Note
Lake herring is available year-round, although some fisheries are closed during the spawningseason (October-December). There is also a fishery for herring roe, which is collected during the spawning season.
Summary
Lake herring is a long-lived, deepwater fish that is found throughout the Great Lakes. It is an important part of the diet of native Great Lakes predators such as lake trout.
The lake herring experienced dramatic declines between 1930 and 1960 due to overfishing, habitat loss and competition with non-native, introduced species such as rainbow smelt. Improved fishery management helped increase the population, however lake herring hasn't fully recovered. Successful management is critical to the overall health of ecosystems in Great Lakes, as this species is as a key player in the reestablishment of native predator-prey communities in the Great Lakes.
Lake herring is caught commercially with gillnets in Lake Superior. Fishery management is generally conservative, resulting in a "Good Alternative" recommendation.
Scientific Reports About Our Ratings
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