Lake whitefish caught in Lake Michigan is rated green. The population’s abundance is considered healthy, overfishing isn’t occurring, and bycatch impacts are minimal. Lake Michigan’s fisheries are comprehensively managed by the relevant federal, state, and tribal agencies. Those with yellow management effectiveness overall – which include two of the six fisheries that harvest lake whitefish – indicate that improvements are needed to ensure that all commercially targeted species are harvested sustainably. There are no serious habitat impacts, and broader lakewide measures have been implemented to restore and protect the ecosystem.
Impacts on the Species Under Assessment
4.284
Impacts on Other Species
5.000
Management Effectiveness
3.000
Impacts on the Habitat and Ecosystem
3.000
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