Lake Opeongo: Effects of Exploitation and Introductions on the Salmonid Community

Abstract

Lake Opeongo, a 58.6 km2 lake in the highlands of Algonquin Park, Ontario, has been under study since 1936. Due to little human development of the area, environmental conditions have been stable but because of its geological setting and location the lake waters are relatively unproductive.The smallmouth bass introduced in 1928 has had no apparent major impact on the salmonid community but has served to buffer fishing pressure on the lake trout. The cisco introduction in 1948 resulted in faster growing, better conditioned, and more fecund lake trout but has also contributed to their later maturity. Weight production of trout increased and in recent years stronger classes have apparently resulted from the improvement in fecundity. Declines in the perch and benthic insects and a decrease in growth rate of certain fishes since the mid-1950s are apparently related to the cisco introduction.Harvest of lake trout by the sport fishery has varied from 630 to 2700 fish/year representing a long term yield of 0.33 kilos/ha. Mean total mortality rate is 50%/year and exploitation has served to double the mortality rate after the trout have entered the fishery. Year-class production is correlated with spawning escapement and exploitation has limited recruitment to the trout population.