Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Updated 2026-08-25 14:01:11

Lake Erie-2021-2025 -> 1.0 Intensively Managed Species -> Yellow Perch Population and Fisheries

Maintain yellow perch populations with sustainable levels of adult biomass and fisheries harvest consistent with the yellow perch management plan

Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are a relatively short-lived species, rarely reaching age-10. Yellow Perch population status is typically driven by periodic strong year classes and fluctuates accordingly. The Lake Erie Fish Community Objective for yellow perch is to maintain populations that support sustainable commercial and sport fisheries (Francis et al. 2020). To achieve this objective, a Lake Erie Yellow Perch Management Plan (YPMP) was developed in consultation with the Lake Erie Percid Management Advisory Group (LEPMAG). The Plan establishes objectives for population and fishery sustainability and quality based upon historic population status and fishery performance. The population is considered sustainable if there are enough adults to support stable recruitment and long-term fisheries. LEPMAG is currently revising the YPMP, which includes developing new models to estimate population abundance and new harvest control rules. In the interim, the Lake Erie Committee (LEC) is using harvest and survey performance indicators to manage Yellow Perch (YPTG, 2026).

Sport harvest rate, estimated as number of fish per angler hour (fish/hr), is a measure of the quality of the sport fishery. In consultation with the LEPMAG, a target harvest rate of at least 1.0 age 4 or older fish/hr was established for the east basin, meaning on average anglers should harvest at least one age 4 or older yellow perch for every hour spent fishing. An individual angler’s harvest rate may vary depending on experience and daily fishing conditions. The east basin sport harvest rate increased over the reporting period (average=1.9 age 4 or older fish/hr) and was above the target harvest rate in all five years or the reporting period (Figure 1).

The Lake Erie yellow perch fishery is one of the most intensively managed freshwater fisheries in the world and is one of only two (along with Lake Erie walleye) Great Lakes fisheries that have Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification.  Consistent yellow perch harvest levels are important to the economic sustainability of commercial fisheries as well as their markets (i.e., fish processors, retailers, restaurants, and patrons). The east basin commercial harvest was stable over the reporting period with an average annual harvest of 138.4 metric tonnes (Figure 2).

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation performs an annual gill net survey to assess the relative abundance of Yellow Perch. The catch of Yellow Perch in the survey declined from the previous reporting period with an average annual catch of 121.7 adult Yellow Perch per net (Figure 3).

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Commercial Fisheries Association perform an annual gill netting survey, referred to as the Partnership Survey, to assess the relative abundance of fish species in the Ontario waters of Lake Erie. The catch of Yellow Perch has increased in this survey compared to the previous reporting period with an average annual catch of 121.1 adult Yellow Perch per net from 2021 to 2025 (Figure 4).

Figure 1. Sport harvest rate of age 4 and older yellow perch in the east basin of Lake Erie relative to the target harvest rate of at least 1.0 age four and older fish per angler hour, 1990-2025.

Figure 2. Total commercial harvest (metric tonnes; gill net and trap net harvest combined) of yellow perch in the east basin of Lake Erie, 1990-2025.

Figure 3. Catch per net of age 2 and older Yellow Perch in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Gill Net Survey, 1993-2025.

Figure 4. Catch per net of age 2 and older Yellow Perch in the Ontario Partnership Gill Net Survey, 1990-2025.