Recent and future demand for Walleye in North America

Walleye stocking is a major program of many fisheries agencies in North America; 32 state, federal, and provincial agencies reported stocking walleye between 1986 and 1991. This study describes a survey of 29 agencies that operated fingerling stocking programs during this period. The average number of fingerlings stocked annually by each agency during this time was 32.5 million fish. Based on a median cost of 2 cents per cm and a fish size of 5.1 cm, operating expenditures for all agencies producing fingerlings during this period totaled US$19 million. The primary purpose of stocking was to rehabilitate or supplement existing walleye populations or to establish new self-sustaining populations. Future stocking during 1996-2000 is likely to increase substantially unless restricted by funding constraints.