June 10, 2025
Walleye is a recreationally, culturally, and economically important fish species in the Upper Midwest, but faces growing challenges from climate change impacts in addition to long-standing stressors, such as habitat loss. In response to population declines, local, state, federal, and tribal agencies have intensified efforts to restore self-sustaining populations through different management strategies. A team of researchers supported by the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC) has completed a first-of-its-kind evaluation of the relative effectiveness of these approaches – the resulting review identifies lessons learned to help guide future efforts in inland fisheries management.
The research team, led by fish biologist Holly Embke of the USGS MW CASC, analyzed more than two dozen case studies from across the region. The team identified harvest regulations, stocking, habitat improvement, fish community management, and stakeholder engagement as common interventions. However, most efforts lacked prior evaluation of the environmental or ecological causes of decline. The review emphasizes the need for ecosystem-based fisheries management and more holistic planning to improve future outcomes.
Read the publication in Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture.