The wisconsin waters of green BAY support an important commercial trap net fishery for lake whitefish with effort that typically exceeds 2,500 pot lifts per season

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $326,965.96 Project Grant under the Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species (CFDA 15.608) program to the University of Wisconsin System, Accounts Payable Dept. The goal of this multi-year grant, with a performance period from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028, is to use acoustic telemetry to estimate latent mortality of walleye and lake whitefish discarded from commercial and recreational fisheries in the Wisconsin waters of Green Bay. Specifically, the researchers will externally attach acoustic transmitters to 120 walleye and 120 lake whitefish captured in the commercial trap net and recreational hook-and-line fisheries to determine if latent mortality estimates differ between the two fishery types. This information is intended to inform fisheries management decisions and mitigate conflicts between user groups. The project will result in progress reports, professional presentations, and a peer-reviewed journal publication.

In addition to other species, by-catch in the commercial fishery includes walleye (which are not legal to harvest) and undersized or unmarketable lake whitefish. Recent studies suggest that approximately 50% of the total lake whitefish catch from the commercial trap net fishery is discarded after capture, and the total number of walleye discards (when extrapolated to annual trap net effort) is estimated to approach 10,000 fish. The goal of our proposed research is to use acoustic telemetry to estimate latent mortality of walleye and lake whitefish discarded from commercial and recreational fisheries in wisconsin waters of green BAY. More specifically, we will externally attach acoustic transmitters to 120 walleye and 120 lake whitefish captured in the commercial trap net and recreational hook-and-line fisheries in green BAY to provide estimates of latent mortality for each species from each fishery type and determine if estimates of latent mortality for each species vary between commercial and recreational fisheries. This information is needed to inform decisions regarding management of commercial and recreational fisheries and to mitigate conflicts between user groups. Our project will result in multiple progress reports, presentations at multiple professional meetings (e.g., lake michigan technical committee, american fisheries society) and meetings of relevant stakeholder groups (e.g., lake michigan commercial fishing board, walleyes for tomorrow), and one manuscript in a peer-reviewed fisheriesjournal.