Study identifies key walleye spawning areas in Mille Lacs Lake
Research found most tagged walleye returned to the same spawning locations each year, highlighting the importance of protecting shoreline habitat
A new study found that walleye in Mille Lacs Lake consistently return to the same spawning locations each year, according to reporting by MPR News. Researchers with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe tracked about 70 adult walleye from 2019 through 2021 using acoustic transmitters and found that 96% of detected fish returned to the same spawning areas annually. The study identified three key spawning sites characterized by sand or gravel bottoms and strong wind and wave action.
According to the study, the most important spawning areas were located along largely undeveloped shorelines. Researchers said shoreline alterations, including vegetation removal, erosion and runoff from fertilizers, can reduce spawning success. Kelly Applegate, natural resources commissioner for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, said the findings will help support the sustainable management of walleye, or ogaawag in Ojibwe.
- 1.Kirsti Marohn. MPR News, .
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