APPLIED INTENSIVE CULTURE TECHNIQUES OF WALLEYE Sander vitreus USED IN FISHERIES RESTORATION EFFORTS FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN     

Kevin Kelsey*, Thomas Chairvolotti, Benjamin Rooks
 
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Ed Weed Fish Culture Station
14 Bell Hill Road
Grand Isle Vermont
 

 

 

Walleye (Sander vitreus) culture for fisheries restoration on Lake Champlain can be documented as far back as 1899. A cooperative was established in 1986 between the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Lake Champlain Walleye Association (LCWA) to provide fingerling production using early rearing intensive culture combined with extensive pond culture techniques. Today's program has placed a greater emphasis on intensive culture techniques that can be developed to provide a consistent output of quality fingerlings (38-51mm) in an effort to maximize production efforts and enhance the walleye fishery. The application of recirculation technology for fingerling production began in 2011, allowing for the control of environmental parameters critical for successful development and transition of walleye fry, advanced fry and fingerlings.

Early intensive rearing techniques have been reported in NCRAC Walleye Culture Manual by Summerfelt et al (1996). Using this initial work as a guide along with collaboration with other researchers, the conception of an intensive culture program was put into place. With currently six production cycles completed, overall production survival to distribution has increased from 6% in the initial year to over 30%, while days post hatch (dph) to target size (38mm>) has decreased from 41dph to 30dph. These advances have been achieved by applying various changes to aspects of culture such as fry density, turbidity, temperature and lighting. We expect to continue our refinements to various features and aspects of the production cycle and recognize the advances that have been made to date are now showing positive results that are contributing to the fishery.