Alewife ⚠ Invasive

🔬 Alosa pseudoharengus

A small, silvery herring that entered the Great Lakes through the Welland Canal. By the 1960s, alewives had exploded to comprise over 90% of the fish biomass in Lake Michigan and were washing up on beaches in massive die-offs measured in tens of thousands of tons. The ecological crisis prompted MDNR to introduce Pacific salmon in 1966 specifically to eat them. Salmon planting worked -- and created the Great Lakes sport fishery Michigan now enjoys.

2-6 inches

Typical size

Listed lakes

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🛡 Alewife Conservation Status

⚠ Invasive Alewife is considered an invasive species in Michigan. Invaded the Great Lakes through the Welland Canal -- present in all Great Lakes by the 1940s-50s. Massive die-offs in the 1960s created public health crises on Michigan beaches. The MDNR's decision to introduce coho salmon in 1966 to control alewife populations created the modern Great Lakes sport fishery. Alewife populations are now much reduced but remain an important forage species for salmon and lake trout. Their decline has ironically contributed to nutrient changes in the Great Lakes.

🌿 Alewife Habitat & Behavior

Open Great Lakes water. Schools in massive aggregations. Rarely enters inland waters except through river connections. DNR records show Alewife present in 8 Michigan water bodies.

🌊 Where to Catch Alewife in Michigan

Lake	County	Population
Charlevoix Lake 17,260 acres	Charlevoix	Good
Indian Lake 8,689 acres	Schoolcraft	Good
Lake Gogebic 13,380 acres	Gogebic	Good
Lake Michigamme 4,149 acres	Marquette	Good
Lake St. Clair 260,000 acres	Macomb	Good
Mullett Lake 16,630 acres	Cheboygan	Good
Muskegon Lake 4,150 acres	Muskegon	Good
Muskegon Lake 4,150 acres	Muskegon	Good

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Full stocking history across all 8 lakes, plus a forecast of which waters are due for restocking this season.

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📋 Quick Alewife Facts

Common name: Alewife
Scientific name: Alosa pseudoharengus
Typical size: 2-6 inches
Status: ⚠ Invasive
Listed in: 8 Michigan lakes
Consumption: Do not eat

🔗 Resources

🐟 All Fish Species 🎣 MDNR Sport Fishing 🔬 MDNR Fish ID Guide 🪪 Buy a Michigan Fishing License 🎣 Log a catch

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