Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River Fisheries Research
What We Do
Our principal function is to help manage the fish resources within Lake Ontario (Cape Vincent Fisheries Station) and the St. Lawrence River (Region 6 Fisheries Unit). By managing, we mean monitoring the status of fish populations and evaluating the need for specific management actions. On Lake Ontario we assess the balance between numbers of trout and and salmon and the amount of available preyfish, and evaluate success of fish stocking programs dedicated to restoring native species and enhancing sport fisheries.
Although most of us are trained biologists, much of our time is devoted to serving people. We regularly respond to questions from the public about the changes currently underway in Great Lakes waters. We frequently attend meetings to inform people of our work and findings. We also encourage their interest and involvement.
Cape Vincent Fisheries Station Services
For many, the best thing we provide are the special services to visitors at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station. We operate a small aquarium and educational center, maintain a riverfront picnic area, furnish accessible docks for fishing, and provide overnight dockage for transient boaters visiting Cape Vincent. These services are free-of-charge, as we try to make all our visitors feel at home and welcome.
How to Contact Us
For Lake Ontario information:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Lake Ontario Fisheries Research Unit
Cape Vincent Fisheries Research Station
541 East Broadway
P.O. Box 292
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
phone: (315) 654-2147
fwfishlo@dec.ny.gov
For St. Lawrence River information:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Region 6 Fisheries Unit
317 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601
phone: (315) 654-2147
fwfish6@dec.ny.gov
More about Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River Fisheries Research:
- Lake Ontario Fisheries Advisory Panel - The Lake Ontario Fisheries Advisory Panel provides recommendations to DEC Fisheries managers on issues with the Lake Ontario fishery. This page provides details about the panel and meeting minutes from panel discussions.
- Status of Lake Ontario Alewife and 2020 DEC Stocking Plans - Key points for discussions on 2020 salmon and trout stocking levels in Lake Ontario, including alewife population characteristics.
- Lake Ontario Fisheries Unit Reports - Reports Available from Lake Ontario Fisheries Unit
- St. Lawrence River Fish Community Objectives - Reports on the fish community objectives for the St. Lawrence River.
- Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey - Prelimininary monthly summary for April and May, 2010, of the NYSDEC Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey.
- Lake Ontario Fisheries Unit Activities and Assessment Programs - Activities and Assessment Programs of DEC's Lake Ontario Fisheries Unit
- DEC Fisheries Research Vessel Seth Green - Information about DEC's Fisheries Research Vessel Seth Green
- Public Facilities At the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station - Public Facilities at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station on the St. Lawrence River.
- Final Sportfishing Restoration & Spending Plan for the Lake Ontario System - The final plan for implementing the Natural Resource Damage (NRD)restoration process for the New York waters of the Lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River.
