Matt Futia

Matt Futia is postdoctoral fellow at the University of Vermont. In this interview, we discuss the use of acoustic telemetry to understand the habitat use and feeding behaviour of lake trout in Lake Champlain.

What sparked your initial interest in lake trout?   

During my undergraduate and master’s studies, I focused on lake trout and salmon in Lake Ontario. One day, I heard about the Lake Champlain population and was fascinated by ongoing restoration efforts in the area. In the early 1900s, lake trout became extinct in Lake Champlain—a phenomenon known as extirpation. Although the exact cause remains unclear, it was likely due to a combination of habitat degradation, overfishing and sea lampreys. Sea lampreys are parasites that attach themselves to fish and suck out their bodily fluids and blood. They contributed to the collapse of many lake trout populations in the Great Lakes around the same time. Since the mid 1900s, there have been efforts to restock Lake Champlain with hatchery-born lake trout. In 2015, naturally produced lake trout were observed in the lake for the first time since their extirpation and the unknowns surrounding their successful restoration intrigued me. I wanted to understand what changed and allowed for the sudden resurgence of wild fish. Lake Champlain was a really exciting success story where a native species was reintroduced and is on track to become a self-sustaining population.   

A spawning aggregation of lake trout in Lake Champlain taken with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). 

Which questions are you trying to answer with your current research?   

I aimed to evaluate long-term effects of hatchery origins on fish behaviour. While multiple studies have shown that hatchery practices can influence fish behaviour—such as where they live and what they eat—few have examined their long-term impact on fish performance and habitat use. My research uses acoustic telemetry to compare distribution between stocked and wild trout in a lake where they co-exist. This comparison allows us to identify differences in movement patterns between these two groups over space—horizontal and vertical movement—and time—seasons and fish age. Given both stocked and wild fish are exposed to the same environmental pressures in the lake, we can assume that any differences in their distribution can be attributed to their different origins in natural or hatchery settings. Additionally, my research identifies key habitats used by wild lake trout as juveniles and adults, particularly focusing on the distribution of sites where they likely lay their eggs.  

Matt (left) and Cassie Wolfanger (right, project assistant), conducting surgery on a lake trout to implant an acoustic transmitter. 

Why is this research important? 

Hatcheries are a common and critical component of fish conservation and restoration efforts. However, stocking programs—where fish are hatched and raised in captivity, then released into the wild—often fail to establish self-sustaining populations. My research provides valuable insight into the long-term effects of hatchery rearing on fish behaviour, which may impact the performance of stocked individuals. Understanding the basic biology of lake trout helps identify characteristics that may facilitate successful restoration. Many lake trout populations across their natural range are supported by stocking efforts with the goal of establishing self-sustaining populations. By identifying differences in the movement behaviours of wild versus stocked fish, my research sheds light on traits associated with hatchery rearing that may hinder stocked individuals’ ability to contribute to natural recruitment. In the case of Lake Champlain, describing the movement and distribution of wild fish helps fisheries managers better monitor and support the ongoing restoration of this population. 

What are the potential impacts of your research findings? 

Stocked and wild lake trout exhibited multiple differences in their movement behaviours across all life stages. These differences included greater scattering among regions and total distance travelled by wild fish compared to stocked individuals. Most importantly, differences in behaviour between stocked and wild adults were often most pronounced during the fall spawning season. Wild individuals tend to move more and likely use more sites in the lake during the spawning season compared to stocked individuals. By using more spawning sites, wild fish may have a greater probability of laying eggs in a location that will have all the requirements for their offspring to survive. There was one site—an artificial pile of rocks near a fish hatchery—that was only used by stocked individuals during the spawning season. Previous studies have found a high density of eggs at this site, but the absence of wild fish detected at the location during the spawning season suggests those offspring were either not surviving or not returning to the site.   

Previous adult stock assessments were biased because they sampled in this area where stocked fish congregated while wild fish used other areas. Luckily, additional sampling was performed at other locations, revealing that wild fish populations were indeed recovering. My research has provided fisheries managers with data on the different distributions of stocked and wild lake trout, revealing biases associated with different sampling locations. This information helps managers better understand the wild population and could influence decisions on the number of fish stocked in the system, ideally leading to a reduction in stocking as the wild population continues to grow.  

Matt (front) and Katherine Helmer (back, project assistant) walking out on a frozen section of Lake Champlain on a winter morning to collect lake trout for acoustic tagging.

How does OTN support your project?  

Through the GLATOS meetings, I connected with scientists from OTN and quickly realized the value of being part of this community. OTN’s study halls were an excellent resource, offering a wealth of information and fostering productive discussions. I could ask any question and usually someone had the perfect answer or could direct me to the right expert. I have also attended OTN workshops and their bi-annual symposium, which have provided fantastic opportunities for networking and collaborating with researchers facing similar questions and challenges. Engaging with people from different areas and perspectives helped me think about my data in new ways, ultimately improving my research.