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Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and lake trout assessment, 2025

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Abstract

Lake Ontario Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) rehabilitation has been assessed with fishery dependent and independent surveys to evaluate program benchmarks and compare observations with management objectives since 1983. These surveys provide information on the abundance, strain composition, and performance of stocked Lake Trout, as well as information on levels of natural recruitment, and Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) wounding rates. Lake Trout catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the August gillnet survey was notably lower in 2025. Percentage of naturally produced Lake Trout in US waters continued to be relatively low for mature and immature fish. Sea Lamprey wounding rates on Lake Trout > 432 mm in 2025 were below management target in US waters with zero A1 wounds observed. Overall, the 2025 survey results suggest that Lake Trout indicators continue to meet some of the management objectives but are not showing signs of meaningful recruitment to the adult stock.

Suggested Citation

O’Malley, B., Dixon, K., Mitchinson, O.M., Stahl, S.D., Weidel, B., Connerton, M.J., and Goretzke, J.A., 2026, Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and lake trout assessment, 2025, 15 p.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Organization Series
Title Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and lake trout assessment, 2025
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center
Description 15 p.
Country Canada, United States
Other Geospatial Lake Ontario
Additional publication details