The Alpena National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) collected tissues from the spawning population of yellow perch in Thunder Bay, Lake Huron for a genetics study underway at the University of Toledo. Tissues were also collected from walleye. These tissues will aid in the development of DNA markers to distinguish unique spawning populations of these native species.

The samples were collected during regularly scheduled monitoring activities targeting Eurasian ruffe. Yellow perch and walleye were encountered as by-catch in overnight sets with small mesh (1.3 cm) gill nets. Sampling consisted of eight single night sets per week during the last three weeks of April (April 17-May 2). The tissue samples consisted of a 1 cm fin clip. Approximately 20 yellow perch and 15 walleye samples were collected. Tissues were frozen and will be shipped via Fed Ex to the University of Toledo, Great Lakes Genetics Laboratory.