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Alewife
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• Present in Oneida Lake since 1916• Similar in appearance to gizzard shad
• Uncommon in Oneida Lake
Alewife are native to Atlantic coast drainages from Labrador to South Carolina. They were first noted in Lake Ontario in 1873, but it is unknown whether they are native there or introduced. Some believe that alewife were always present in Lake Ontario but were not noticed until the decline of Atlantic salmon and lake trout—predator species who may have kept alewife populations in check. Others argue that alewife were introduced, either by migration through the Erie Canal from the Hudson River or through unintentional stocking with American shad. Alewife have been present in Oneida Lake since at least 1916 but have never become abundant.
Alewife, sometimes referred to as sawbellys, have a greenish or bluish back and silvery sides with faint dark stripes. Adults are usually about 6 inches long but can grow to 10 inches. Their lifespan is six or seven years. Zooplankton are their preferred prey. In freshwater systems such as the Great Lakes, they are important prey for popular game fish like salmon and trout. In Oneida Lake, alewife are uncommon and provide only very limited food for predators like walleye.
To learn more about Alewife...
Alewife Factsheet (pdf - 101kb)
