FWC stocks 800 yellow perch to restore Dead Lakes population

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists continue to help native fish species flourish in the Panhandle through restocking efforts. In February, biologists stocked 800 yellow perch to restore a critically affected fish population. This lesser-known species is native to the Apalachicola River and, historically, the most abundant yellow perch population was found in Dead Lakes near Wewahitchka.

FWC biologists, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, stocked more than 3,000 yellow perch in Dead Lakes in 2024 and an additional 800 yellow perch last month.

The need for this restoration project arose in 2018 after Hurricane Michael severely impacted the yellow perch population, resulting in fish kills. FWC biologists have worked with state and federal agencies to protect and conserve shoal bass, which were similarly impacted by Hurricane Michael; these efforts have expanded to yellow perch.

Biologists will evaluate the fish stocking later this year to assess how hatchery fish have contributed to restoring the yellow perch population.

"These fish stockings are a major step in the restoration of a severely impacted native fish population," said Ryan Henry, fisheries biologist with FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

Henry will lead the fish stocking evaluation effort and hopes these stockings will reestablish the Dead Lakes yellow perch population.

"We have seen the impact of Hurricane Michael on several sport fish species in the Panhandle, and we hope to have the same success stocking yellow perch as we have with other species, such as shoal bass," said Chris Paxton, regional fisheries administrator with FWC's Division of Freshwater Fisheries.

For more information about yellow perch in Florida, visit the FWC web page about yellow perch.