Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in Lake Simcoe COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 9

Special Significance of the Species

As reported in Evans et al. (1985), the Lake Simcoe whitefish was considered to be a genetically discrete stock of the lake whitefish (Ihssen et al. 1981), having been separated from nearby stocks in the Great Lakes region for about 7,000 to 10,000 years by geographic and man-made barriers. Given the low probability that an environment similar to that in Lake Simcoe exists elsewhere in Canada and that the Lake Simcoe whitefish has diverged genetically from nearby stocks as a result of its local habitat, Evans et al. (1985) suggested providing special protection for the Lake Simcoe lake whitefish.

Along with other cold-water fish species in Lake Simcoe, the decline in lake whitefish abundance in the lake has indicated deteriorating habitat quality. As indicators of habitat quality, these species fulfill an important ecological role. Successful rehabilitation of the lake whitefish could also result in rehabilitation of other cold-water species in Lake Simcoe.

The Lake Simcoe lake whitefish remains the species most targeted by recreational anglers. During the 2001 winter fishery on Lake Simcoe, 63% of the total estimated effort was targeted, in part (i.e., many anglers target more than one species), toward lake whitefish. The recreational winter fishery on Lake Simcoe provides anglers with over one million angler hours of fishing each year. This fishery increases tourism to the area and provides an influx of money to the local economy.

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