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Trout, Lake
(Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Wild-caught)
Rating:
Great Lakes trout were reduced by overfishing and the introduction of non-native species. Due to recent increases, lake trout from Lake Huron and Lake Superior is a "Good Alternative." Concerns about low numbers in Lake Michigan result in an "Avoid" ranking.
Market Names:
Char, Laker, Mackinaw, Namaycush, Salmon Trout, Togue
Consumer Notes:
Lake trout is available year-round and may be marketed fresh, frozen or smoked.
Summary:
Lake trout is a long-lived predator that is distributed in lakes throughout North America. In the mid-1900s, overfishing reduced lake trout populations throughout the Great Lakes. They were further diminished by the introduction of invasive, non-native species that either competed with the trout for food or preyed on the trout itself.
While trout's essential habitat and spawning areas have been relatively undisturbed in the Great Lakes, populations in some of the lakes are in serious decline or have completely disappeared.
Fishery managers in the Great Lakes have made restoring lake trout populations a priority. However, success has been limited and lake trout stocks are still a critical conservation concern in Lake Michigan.
We recommend lake trout from Lake Superior and Lake Huron as a "Good Alternative," while lake trout from Lake Michigan is ranked "Avoid."
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