Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Updated 2024-11-22 15:21:10

Lake Superior -> 11.0 Species Diversity -> Species Diversity

11.1.1 Fish species diversity is stable or increasing in Lake Superior

There are currently no formal indicators for the diversity FCO. Lake Superior is the most depauperate Great Lakes in terms of fish diversity, though the watershed is thought to be the home to 88 fish species. There is little known about the status of the majority of these species as they primarily reside in tributaries, protected embayments and coastal wetland areas, which are less often sampled by fisheries management agencies that are responsible for management of recreational and commercial fisheries as the majority of valued fishes are not located in these habitats. The LSTC is currently working on using the data collected in these under sampled habitats as part of the aquatic invasive species early detection and monitoring program to develop indicators for these fish.

Although home to relatively few species, Lake Superior does retain remarkable diversity in its nearshore and offshore areas. It continues to maintain four recognized lake trout forms (lean, siscowet, humper and redfin), and has retained its original cisco fauna, unlike the other Great Lakes.