Response of non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) to 15 years of harvest in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park

A 15-year gill-netting program targeting non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Yellowstone Lake, USA, failed to achieve population suppression or eradication despite removing nearly 450,000 individuals. While the lake trout population's growth rate remains positive but reduced compared to pre-harvest levels, current fishing efforts are insufficient to curb reproduction and ensure long-term decline. The study highlights that increasing mortality of sexually mature lake trout could enhance suppression effectiveness, underscoring the challenges of restoring a large, remote ecosystem with a simple fish assemblage through targeted apex predator removal.

Syslo, J. M., Guy, Christopher S., Bigelow, Patricia E., Doepke, Philip D., Ertel, Brian D., & Koel, Todd M. (2011). Response of non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) to 15 years of harvest in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 68(12), 2132–2145. https://doi.org/10.1139/f2011-122