The Last Hurrah for a Great Lakes Icon? The lake whitefish, a keystone species in the Great Lakes ecosystem, is facing an uncertain future.
A recent survey by biologists warns that it could disappear from parts of the Great Lakes within the next five years due to the invasive mussels responsible for its decline.
For centuries, the lake whitefish has been tied to the lives and traditions of indigenous communities, while settlers exploited its popularity as a food source in the mid 19th century.