Alewife

From Great Lakes Wiki

Alewife

Scientific: Alosa pseudoharengus

Also known as: Seth, Mulhaden, Grey Herring, Golden Shad, and Skipjack

Lives in these Great Lakes: All of them

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Picture and information reference: http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/framefish.html (Click on Alewife)

This fish weighs about four ounces. The length of the average fish is 6 inches. They usually appear bluish-green or silvery-blue. This fish came from the Atlantic, travelling to the Great Lakes using the Welland Canal. They have been living in the Great Lakes since the 1950s. They are not built for freshwater lakes because of their Atlantic heritage. Alewife fish do not enjoy the summer. Often, many of them die in June. Alewives are common food for Trout and Salmon species, swimming in large numbers to prevent becoming prey. The fish havee an average lifespan of 6-7 years. Sea Lamprey killed many of the Alewives' predators. After this happened the population of Alewives rose dramatically. Alewives compete with other species for their food. They compete against chubs, perch, and finch for plankton and various small organisms living in the lake.