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Potential Fisheries Yield from Smallwood Reservoir, Western Labrador, with Special Emphasis on Lake Whitefish
Author(s) -
Bruce W. J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1984)4<48:pfyfsr>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - coregonus clupeaformis , salvelinus , trout , fishery , biomass (ecology) , coregonus , fish <actinopterygii> , hectare , biology , environmental science , ecology , agriculture
An experimental gillnetting program in the summers of 1974, 1976, and 1979 on seven major lakes of Smallwood Reservoir in western Labrador showed lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) to be the dominant species in terms of numbers and relative biomass. Length‐frequency distributions of lake whitefish and lake trout were typical of unexploited northern fish populations while the age structure of whitefish was relatively young for unexploited populations. Slow‐growing but early‐maturing dwarf lake whitefish populations also were documented in two lakes of the reservoir. A long‐term potential yield of 2.85 kg/hectare/year for all species combined was calculated for the reservoir. The proportion of this yield attributable to lake whitefish was 45.7%. Surface gill nets were more efficient in capturing marketable‐size whitefish, with the 76‐ and 102‐mm mesh taking the highest percentage. There was a large incidental catch of lake trout in the bottom nets, with the 102‐mm mesh being the most efficient. Recommendations for the development of a fishery on the reservoir were proposed, based on the findings of the experimental gillnetting program.