Chapter 3.26
3.26. Walleye
Rachel Kestenberg , University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Kestenberg,R. (2022) Fish And Freshwater/Marine Invertebrates. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/
Introduction
The walleye fish, which is also known as yellow pike or pickerel falls under the perch family, this family is a freshwater fish. The walleye fish are a native species of fish in Canada, the great lakes and Missouri river basin but can also be found in the United States and other parts of the world. The walleye fish is known for looking almost identical to the sauger fish which is another native fish in Ontario. Recently the fish have also been introduced to the water and northeastern United states. Walleyes tend to weigh about 11 Kg which is equivalent to 24.25 pounds, also heavier than the average fish found in the river basin.
Species Information
The walleye fish belongs to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Actinopterygii, and order Percidae. Most of this fish's range is in North America. Other smaller fish and insects are favorite food items for this kind of predator. Their life span is approximately 240 months, which is equivalent to 20 years, and the greatest concern they currently face is climate change (A-Z Animals, 2022).
The Walleye fish also known as the “Sander Vitreous” are a group of freshwater fish that have a fin on top of their back, otherwise known as a dorsal fin. Walleye are known to be green, white and golden. To most people the walleye fish is known as the yellow pickerel. The walleye fish has a close relative that looks almost exactly alike and is very easy to confuse called the sauger fish which is also a native fish (Government of Canada, 2016). The only difference between the Walley and the Sauger fish is the Walleye is distinctively larger than the sauger fish and the sauger fish has glossy eyes and dark spots on its back.
Geographical origins
Walleyes are generally found in the arctic river basins located in multiple provinces of Canada like Alberta, Northern British Columbia, Saskatchewan and part of Yukon all the way to the Mackenzie river drainage located in the northwest territories. The walleye fish need to be in water that ranges between 42 degrees Celsius to 70 degrees Celsius depending on the time of year (Matechak, 2022). If the temperature is not between 42-70 degrees Celsius fisherman usually won't be able to find or catch them. Generally, besides temperature walleye do not need too many other aspects to grow healthy and large to its potential.
Association to indigenous people
Fishing is a big cultural aspect of first nations. Fishing is supposed to promote family connections. Natives do not only use fishing to support health but it is a big part of the trades for a more sustainable economy. Due to First nations being so Intune with fishing and it being a native activity a lot of first nations inherit different treaty rights such as, inheriting traditional lands, waters and resources which also happens to include fisheries.
Walleye have been a part of a lot of different indigenous communities for many generations. Walleye have been eaten by many indigenous and first nations groups such as the Montagnais (Innu), The first nations of Ontario, the Attawapiskat, the muskeg, and the Chippewa. All these different indigenous tribes and groups have been eating the walleye fish well before it had been processed and put into other retailers and grocery stores. This fish is most native to eastern and central Canada. The indigenous community believe that this fish helps shape identity, promote spiritual health, mental health, physical health and helps with suicide prevention and life promotion (Whiteduck, 2018).
Consumption and uses
Walleye is generally a fish that people tend to eat to get a good source of omega 3 fatty acids and is also a good source of protein, especially for people who don't eat meat (pescatarians). Specifically, to the indigenous community fish is quite a large part of their diet because they rely on fish to be a part of their diet. Indigenous people tend to believe that consuming fish as a part of your daily diet provides all the essential and important nutrients that help keep you healthy. The Indigenous also believe that eating fresh fish helps get rid of the westernized diet consisting of tons of processed foods. Processed foods cause a lot of issues such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes (Glenn, 2021). Unfortunately, eating this many fish may also have its side effects such as mercury poisoning which can be extremely dangerous to human health (Moriarity, et. al, 2020).
Health benefits
Walleye is a great source of protein. Protein helps build and make muscles in your body stronger. There are also tons of good fats in fish such as omega-3 fatty acids, these fatty acids help the body, and heart function to its potential. Walleye also have tons of vitamin D in it which tends to work with the protein to help muscles stay strong and healthy. Fish also has tons of other minerals riboflavin (vitamin B2), calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. All of these individual vitamins and minerals help your body function on the daily. The American heart association actually recommends that everyone should be eating fish at least twice a week because (Washington State Department of Health) the proteins in fish are extremely different from the proteins in other meats such as steak and chicken. Steak and chicken have a lot more additives into the fat that makes it a lot more unhealthy so even though the source of protein coming from these foods is good there aren't as many health benefits as if you were to swap out the steak and chicken for more fish.
Walleye fish also have tons of health benefits to unborn children that are still in their mothers wombs. Mothers that are expecting are told not to eat raw fish but cooked fish can be an excellent source of protein for the baby's growth. Specifically, walleye has two crucial nutrients known as zinc and iron which aids in the growth and development of the unborn child. As mentioned before there are omega-3 fatty acids which are good for the growth of anyone but because there is docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid in the omega-3 fatty acids it helps promote the growth of the baby's brain. Walleye is actually one of the few fish that pregnant women are told they are allowed to eat because other fish such as swordfish, tuna, king mackerel and shark contain high levels of mercury which can be extremely dangerous for the unborn child because mercury tends to accumulate in the bloodstream which then goes to your baby and can damage the brains nervous system, especially if the brain hasn't had enough time to develop (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2021).
Limitations
There are many laws governing fishing in Canada, including restrictions on where you can fish, when you can fish, and how much you can catch on one fishing trip. The province of Ontario's fishing regulations differs from those across Canada because they need to exercise caution around fish that are endangered, they set these regulations about fishing in specific locations. When it comes to fishing, there are three different types of restrictions: size restrictions, possession restrictions, and catch limits (Ontario.ca).
Particularly for walleye, there are a few fishing limitations. Walleye between 16.1 and 22 inches long must be released back into the water. The walleye must be 16 inches or shorter, or 22.1 inches or longer to be legal. Rule number two is that there can only be four walleye fish in the boat at once per one certified fisher. The last rule is people must wait until the designated walleye season, which runs from the third week of May until the first week of December, to go walleye fishing (Algoma Country, 2022).
Not following fishing laws and fishing without a license is illegal according to the “Fish and wildlife conservation act 1997” can result in a fine up to 25000 dollars or even one year in prison in Ontario. It is different in all provinces but Canada takes its fish and wildlife conservation act extremely seriously.
References
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