The pesky Gizzard shad is a fish without many positive attributes. The fish isn’t valued for human consumption: the flesh is soft and rather tasteless, it’s riddled with fine bones and has a strong odor. Scientists learned more than a decade ago that this “rough” fish is a veritable phosphorus factory, helping exacerbate algae growth in murky lakes by feeding on lake bottoms and excreting nutrients into the water. Lake Apopka used to be a prime example of a nutrient-laden lake monopolized by the Gizzard shad.
This year marks the 18th year of Gizzard shad harvesting in Lake Apopka. Harvesting has resulted in an 85% decline in Gizzard shad, which helps clean the lake’s nutrient-rich water and improve its suitability for other fish species. During an average year, between 450 and 500 metric tons of fish and two to three metric tons of phosphorus are removed from the lake. However, during recent years fishing has removed low Gizzard shad numbers with harvests between 150 – 200 metric tons. This year, harvesting commenced in October and so far, the fish catch is about 130 metric tons.
The District has conducted similar harvests in Lake Griffin where sport fish populations have increased and the District stopped harvesting several years ago.
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