143rd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society

September 08 - 14, 2013

Muskellunge and northern pike are top predators and highly sought after game fish in the USA and Canada.  Although numerous muskellunge and northern pike populations are currently thriving, stock depletion or extirpation in many native waters has occurred due to overfishing, habitat alteration, and disease.  Changes in angler attitudes over the last 30 years have shifted most muskellunge fisheries from catch and harvest towards catch and release, alleviating many problems associated with overfishing.  However, harvest of northern pike remains common, and overfishing is a substantial issue for some populations.  These threats combined with climate change, biological invasions, and unevaluated propagation practices are issues that must be addressed in order to sustain healthy muskellunge and northern pike populations, rehabilitate depleted populations, and successfully reintroduce extirpated populations.  This symposium will provide a forum for AFS members and meeting participants to present up-to-date information on the biology, ecology, and management of muskellunge and northern pike.  We welcome presentations relevant to muskellunge and northern pike research and management, and especially encourage presentations that focus on habitat use and restoration, genetics, population reintroductions, foraging ecology, and changes in reproduction, growth, and mortality as related to ecological changes.  At the end of the symposium we will host a directed discussion and open forum with invited expert panelists.  The panel will address questions stemming from the presentations and any issues that were not presented but are important for identifying future muskellunge and northern pike management and research objectives.