Business & Economy

Scientists worry about lake herring crash, say new restrictions may help

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By SAM CORDEN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Scientists have been worried about the lake herring population in Lake Superior recently. In fact, last year they warned it could be headed towards a collapse. Lake Superior is the only Great Lake that still has a significant population of herring – or cisco as they’re commonly called. This fall, new rules protecting herring took effect in Wisconsin and Minnesota and things appear more stable. But there may still be a big problem lying beneath the surface.

Environment

Efforts to boost Lake Huron herring threatened by fish disease

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Algae blooms, overfishing and invasive species depleted once thriving schools of Great Lakes herring. Now Michigan officials want to bring them back in Lake Huron. But there’s a new concern – lake herring are highly susceptible to an emerging fatal fish disease. Researchers found that lake herring are prime targets for Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus. It causes organs, skin and muscles to hemorrhage.