State, tribal and community leaders have already taken several actions to help the struggling walleye. These include major stocking initiatives, new fishing regulations, programs to enhance habitat, bass removals and even moratoriums on walleye harvests.
“Most people interested in the outdoors, fishing and hunting are interested in leaving something for future generations, hopefully something better,” Rypel said. “It's essential that we work collaboratively when we see trends that fisheries like these are in decline.”
Co-authors on the study included Greg Sass from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Daisuke Goto and M. Jake Vander Zanden from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The study was funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the United States Geological Survey and the National Science Foundation's Long Term Ecological Research Program in North Temperate Lakes.