WNY Outdoors Blog

Friday, November 9, 2012

NY releases bloater

NY releases bloater fish in Lake Ontario

Updated 3:04 a.m., Friday, November 9, 2012
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 OSWEGO, N.Y. (AP) — NewYork's Department of Environmental Conservation is partnering with federal and Canadian agencies to restore the "bloater" fish to Lake Ontario.

Juvenile bloaters raised in a hatchery were released offshore of Oswego on Thursday, bringing the fish to the lake for the first time in 30 years. Biologists say re-establishing the species will add stability to the lake's ecosystem and sport fisheries.

The bloater is a type of deepwater cisco and was once the most abundant prey fish in the lake. Populations declined dramatically by the mid-20th century due to over-harvesting and expanding populations of invasive alewife and rainbow smelt.
Re-introducing bloaters will provide more food choices for lake trout and salmon, which can develop vitamin B deficiency if they feed primarily on alewife.

Read more: http://www.newstimes.com/news/science/article/NY-releases-bloater-fish-in-Lake-Ontario-4022270.php#ixzz2Blw8bpBj

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