The binational Lake Erie Committee has set allowable perch and walleye catches for this year, and they're down from last year.
Fishery managers from Ontario, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have representatives on the committee. It sets allowable catches in numbers for walleye and pounds for perch.
Allowable catches for yellow perch this year is 6.573-million pounds, a decrease of nine per cent from 7.185-million pounds last year.
The allowable catch for walleye is set at 13,526-million fish, down seven per cent from 14,533-million.
Decisions are based on lakewide biological assessments and consultations with stakeholders. Scientists and field biologists meet annually to estimate fish populations in Lake Erie and recommend the allowable catch.
"These decisions are reflective of the status of Lake Erie's fish populations and consider the goal of maintaining a sustainable harvest," said a release. "The individual states and provincial governments implement the TAC in their jurisdiction in accordance with their respective regulations and management objectives."
Ontario's allowable catch of yellow perch is 3.155-million pounds, while Ohio will receive 2.4-million, 221,000 pounds for Michigan, 181,000 for New York State, and 500,0000 pounds for Pennsylvania.
The Lake Erie Committee said the yellow perch population continues to face challenges in the lake's central basin.
Guided by the Walleye Management Plan, the committee has lowered that allowable catch by seven per cent, although the committee believes those populations have increased from last year. It said the size of the fish appears to be smaller.
Ohio is entitled to 6.9-million fish, while Ontario will allow 5.8-million. Michigan's catch is 789,000.
