Lake Ontario -> 3.0 Deep Pelagic And Offshore Benthic Zone Goal
Lake Ontario 3.0 Deep Pelagic And Offshore Benthic Zone Goal
Protect and restore the diversity of the offshore benthic fish community composed of a mix of self-sustaining native species including Lake Trout, Burbot, Lake Whitefish, deepwater ciscoes, Slimy Sculpin, and Deepwater Sculpin.
Restore Lake Trout populations
Restore self-sustaining populations to function as the top deepwater predator that can support sustainable recreational fisheries.
The objective to restore self-sustaining populations of wild Lake Trout in Lake Ontario was not met during the reporting period. However, positive progress was made during the reporting period and the trend in many indicators are moving in the right direction. Abundance of stocked Lake Trout increased during the reporting period in both NY and ON, and there were substantial increases in wild juvenile Lake Trout catches. These data point to the potential for increases in wild adult Lake Trout in future years, but, wild adult Lake Trout numbers remained low during the reporting period.
Increase Lake Whitefish abundance
Increase abundance in northeastern waters and re-establish historic spawning populations in other areas.
Lake whitefish abundance in the eastern basin of Lake Ontario has not increased, however the population appears to be stable over the past two decades at relatively low level compared to the 1990s. The population has not increased in other areas such as the Bay of Quinte and Chaumont Bay and therefore the objective has not been met.
Increase prey fish diversity
Maintain and restore a diverse prey fish community that includes deepwater ciscoes, Slimy Sculpin, and Deepwater Sculpin.
Deepwater Sculpin populations have increased in Lake Ontario during the reporting period and have contributed to increased diversity of native prey fish in the offshore benthic zone despite continued declines, and record low Slimy Sculpin biomass. The first detection of stocked Bloater also occurred during the reporting period which is a great milestone for the Bloater re-introduction program. Increases in Deepwater Sculpin and the first detection of stocked Bloater outweigh the declines in Slimy Sculpin biomass and meet the objective to maintain and restore a diverse prey fish community in the offshore benthic zone.
Control Sea Lamprey
Suppress abundance of Sea Lamprey to levels that will not impede achievement of objectives for Lake Trout and other fish.
Adult Sea Lamprey abundance and Lake Trout wounding rates in Lake Ontario were below target during all years of the reporting period. Lake Ontario continues to have excellent Sea Lamprey control and Sea Lamprey levels were unlikely to have impeded objectives for Lake Trout and other fish during the reporting period.
