To: All my Frost Bite friends – there is a looming problem for the Lake Champlain fishery that if left unacted upon, will have significant negative impacts. The issue is Round Gobies.
Round Gobies are native to Eurasia and were introduced to the Great Lakes in the mid-90’s through ballast water from transoceanic freighters. They spread throughout the GL basin, down the Erie Canal and were first identified in the Hudson in 2021. Now the fear is they are on their way up the Champlain Canal and will invade Lake Champlain.
“These fish are voracious feeders and compete with native species for food and spawning habitat. Their diet includes small invertebrates, mussels, and the eggs of native species and popular sportfish.” – NYSDEC
A study by SUNY-Plattsburgh and UVM predicted that Champlain would be invaded by spiny water fleas, fishhook water fleas and round gobies – the fleas are here and the gobies are on the way – AND very little is being done about them.
The Army Corps of Engineers proposed the construction of a permanent barrier with a boatlift and cleaning station at Lock 9 in Fort Anne, but this and several other options have run afoul of bureaucratic red tape. The same set of circumstances that allowed the migration of the goby down the Erie Canal into Oneida Lake and the Hudson, are now in-play on the Champlain Canal and there is no reason to expect a different outcome, i.e. the gobies will reach Lake Champlain.
While we can hope for action on the part of the regulatory and protective agencies, a flood of letters and e-Mails to local politicians and agencies would let them know that we are watching and expect more than lip service and “hand wringing”.
If you share my concern please let your voice be heard by contacting one or more of the following, urging them to action to control the invasion of the goby.
Thx “Chessieman”
Ed Skorupski – eskorups@nycap.rr.com
Contacts:
Shaun Gillilland – Chair, Essex County Supervisors. supervisor@townofwillsborony.gov
Robert Fiorentino – NYSDEC - Region 5 Fisheries Manager, rob.fiorentino@dec.ny.gov
Eric Palmer, Fish Division Director VT Fish & Wildlife, Eric.Palmer@vermont.gov
Shawn Good, Fisheries Scientist, VT Fish & Wildlife, Shawn.Good@vermont.gov
Ms. Elise Stefanik - US House of Representatives, NY - Email Congresswoman Stefanik | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (house.gov)
Ms. Becca Balint- US House of Representatives, VT- https://balint.house.gov/
Round Gobies
- raz
- Site Admin
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Re: Round Gobies
This is NOT GOOD. Thanks for the heads-up and education Ed.
Catch and serve with lemon.
Gerry
Gerry
- finsntins
- Posts: 441
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- Location: old forge,ny/little salmon river,mexico,ny
Re: Round Gobies
while gobies are considered an invasive species and like you stated,they have been throughout the great lakes waters for over 20 years,i dont know of any adverse effects on,at least the trout,salmon,and walleye fisheries,if anything,id say they are helping the trout fishery,the browns and lakers on ontario are very healthy and "big bodied" fish and when you cut them open,they are usually loaded with gobbies.im not a walleye fisherman,but i know the walleye coming out of ontario are huge and on onieda lake they just increased the daily bag limit,so they are obviously doing good there and im sure they are consuming gobies.another advantage to having the gobbies around are they are taking some pressure off the alwife population,so theres more for the salmon to eat.now what the gobies will do to the bass and panfish fisheries,that could be an issue,chances are,they are already in champ,so tying to stop them will be a waste of time and money,id rather see the time and money spent on lamprey control,which we all know are a big problem,if not kept under control.
Miss B.Haven' sportfishing
Re: Round Gobies
In response to "finsntins" comments, here's an article I wrote on why having round goby in Lake Champlain would be very bad for the lake ecologically, as well as bad for anglers. Invasive species always impact the health of the lake, even if there are small, isolated examples of something an angler might perceive as "good" (ie. bigger smallmouth bass), there's always a trade-off of LESS bass, and impacts to things anglers may not even think about like a loss of biodiversity, losing small native fish species most people aren't aware exist in Champlain, but in losing them, it results in poorer ecosystem health overall for the lake.
Re: Round Gobies
So Shawn when do NY and VT. actually do something about this. Its been kicked around for quite some time now (studies and money) Yet here we are . Nothing done and the clock is ticking.
- raz
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4293
- Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:02 am
- Species: Coldwater fishes!!!
- Location: LAKE CHAMPLAIN UNITED!
Re: Round Gobies
Thanks for the article Shawn, and for putting it all together in your post here.
Catch and serve with lemon.
Gerry
Gerry
- Ahhspray
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:12 am
- Species: Whatever the lake will provide
- Location: Northern Vermont
Re: Round Gobies
Holy Chrome! Speaking about these Gobies invading Onieda Lake in NY, Shawn's article states "by 2015 they were the most abundant fish species in the lake, reaching densities of 100 fish per square yard of lake bottom." 100 FISH PER SQUARE YARD?!? Let's not let that happen.
Totally rebuilt - 1986 22' Starcraft 220V CC T-top w/ 1986 Evinrude 140hp and 1978 Merc 7.5hp kicker
- finsntins
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:58 pm
- Species: salmon
- Location: old forge,ny/little salmon river,mexico,ny
Re: Round Gobies
yup and the walleye.bass,and perch are eating them up and loving it!!!!Ahhspray wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 7:24 am Holy Chrome! Speaking about these Gobies invading Onieda Lake in NY, Shawn's article states "by 2015 they were the most abundant fish species in the lake, reaching densities of 100 fish per square yard of lake bottom." 100 FISH PER SQUARE YARD?!? Let's not let that happen.
Miss B.Haven' sportfishing
- ChessieMan
- Posts: 242
- Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2014 10:48 am
- Species: trout/salmon
Re: Round Gobies
There are several ways to look at this situation, both "pro" and "con", but the fact is - the gobies are non-native and will change the lake fishery - we saw it with the alewives - yes, nature will adapt to whatever degree she is capable, but not having to adapt is a better scenario.
The canal is a conduit for invasives - we could be talking about silver, big-head carp or something else next - let's focus on closing the door to keep things as they are.
The canal is a conduit for invasives - we could be talking about silver, big-head carp or something else next - let's focus on closing the door to keep things as they are.
Re: Round Gobies
HOW MANY BOATS USE THE CANAL.I LIVE NEXT TO IT DON'T SEE MANY BOATS A FEW BIG YACHTS IT MUST BE LOOSING MONEY.SHUT IT DOWN.