Why is the fish called alewife?

But the name of the Atlantic fish can be traced back to the 1630s when colonists in North America gave the alewife the name because of its paunch little belly, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.

Are alewife fish invasive species?

But alewives are an invasive species that harm lake trout, a native fish that biologists have been trying and failing to re-establish for decades. Alewives keep lake trout down in two ways, said Mark Ebener, fish assessment biologist with the Chippewa Ottawa Resources Authority.

What is the scariest fish in Lake Michigan?

Sea Lamprey
The Sea Lamprey must be the scariest-looking of all the dangerous creatures in Lake Michigan. It has an eel-like body, and its mouth is large and round with numerous rows of sharp teeth.

What kind of fish is Alewife in Lake Michigan?

The Alewife is a small bait fish that bears some resemblance to Herring. It’s also incredibly invasive. It made its way to Lake Michigan in the ’60s, and its presence led to commercial overfishing, the disappearance of recreational angling, and heaps of fish washing up on the beaches.

Is the alewife a native of Lake Erie?

Possibly native to Lake Ontario. Present in Lake Erie in 1931, Huron in 1933, Michigan in 1949, and Lake Superior in 1954 ( Miller 1957) DOI. USGS. Wetland and Aquatic Research Center. Provides detailed collection information as well as animated map.

When did the Alewife die off in Lake Michigan?

Population characteristics and physical condition of alewives, Alosa pseudoharengus, in a massive dieoff in Lake Michigan, 1967. Great Lakes Fishery Commission Technical Report No. 13.

Why is the Alewife important to the Great Lakes?

Alewife is a very important species in the history of biological invasions in the Great Lakes. Periodic large-scale die-offs littered the beaches of the Great Lakes with rotting fish in the 1960’s. Such die-offs can pose both a nuisance and a health hazard (Becker 1983). Prompted by calls for alewife management,…