Updated 2023-11-21 15:46:35
Lake Ontario -> 2.0 Offshore Pelagic Zone Goal -> Atlantic Salmon
Reporting Interval
2014 - 2019
Area
Meeting Target?
Does Not Meet
Indicator Trend
No trend
Confidence?
High
Increasing angler-catch of wild and stocked Atlantic Salmon in Lake Ontario and in the Salmon River, NY
In the open lake in and in the Salmon River, NY, Atlantic Salmon catch rates during the 2014-2019 reporting period remain low (Fig. 1). In the open water fishery of Lake Ontario, Atlantic Salmon catch rates have remained low and stable since the previous reporting period in both the NY and ON waters (0.001 and 0.002 fish per angler hour, respectively).
NYSDEC conducted an extensive tributary creel survey in 2015-2016 and the fall of 2019, while in the previous reporting period (2008-2013) this survey was conducted once (2011-2012). In the Salmon River, NY, Atlantic Salmon catch rates remain low in the currently reporting period(average of 288 fish caught per year; 0.000 fish per angler hour).
In 2019, NYSDEC initiated an angler diary program where participants would record their catches. The 15 participating anglers recorded catching 20 mature Atlantic Salmon (0.02 fish/hour).Diary catch rates represent anglers that are specifically targeting Atlantic Salmon, primarily in the summer when few other salmon and trout species are present in Lake Ontario tributaries. As this is a new program, catches are not available from the previous reporting period for comparison.
Figure. 1. Atlantic Salmon catch rates (fish / ang-hour) in New York and Ontario waters of Lake Ontario (1990 –2019)
Methodology
Atlantic Salmon catch rates in the open water fishery of Lake Ontario are evaluated annually by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and intermittently by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF). Both agencies interview anglers throughout the open water season (April to October) to determine the number of fish caught and harvested as well as the amount of time spent fishing. Catch rates in the tributary fishery are estimated in a similar fashion with field staff interviewing anglers streamside to determine number of fish caught and time spent fishing. Catch rates are determine by dividing the number of Atlantic Salmon caught by the number of hours spent fishing for each interview and then averaged across the fishing season. In the diary program, NYSDEC worked with volunteer anglers, who recorded data for each individual fishing trip (i.e., catch, harvest, hours fished, etc.) on the Salmon River, NY.
Other Resources
Connerton, M.J.., N.V. Farese and R. J. Moore. 2020. Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey 1985-2019. Section 2 In NYSDEC 2019 Annual Report, Bureau of Fisheries, Lake Ontario Unit and St. Lawrence River Unit to the Great Lake Fishery Commission’s Lake Ontario Committee.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 2020. Lake Ontario Fish Communities and Fisheries: 2019 Annual Report of the Lake Ontario Management Unit. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Picton, Ontario, Canada.
Prindle, S.P. and D.L. Bishop 2020. Fall 2019 Lake Ontario Tributary Angler Survey. Section 15 In NYSDEC 2019 Annual Report, Bureau of Fisheries, Lake Ontario Unit and St. Lawrence River Unit to the Great Lake Fishery Commission’s Lake Ontario Committee
Contributing Author(s)
- Michael Yuille - OMNRF
- Michael Connerton - NYDEC
- Daniel Bishop - NYDEC
- Scott Prindle - NYDEC