• News
  • Lake Facts
  • About

Lake Scientist

Eurasian Ruffe

Daniel Kelly | Fondriest Environmental

Eurasian ruffe resemble yellow perch and are in fact a member of the same family. Ruffe are also said to look like young walleye, johnny darter or troutperch. Troutperch are smaller than ruffe and only have a single top fin. Some markers of Eurasian ruffe include:

  • a large dorsal fin joined with the rear one, the front half of which has 11 to 16 spines;
  • a slightly downturned mouth;
  • a head without scales;
  • perch-like body shape;
  • and a length of usually less than 6 inches but no more than 10 inches.
eurasian ruffe

Eurasian ruffe. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons User Tiit Hunt via Creative Commons)

Eurasian ruffe made their way into the Great Lakes through the ballast water of ships from european ports. Though their native habitat region was thought to have been the Baltic Sea, later DNA analysis has led scientists to hypothesize that they came from southern Europe.

Ruffe were found for the first time in the Great Lakes in 1986, taking up residence in Lake Superior. From there, populations of the fish increased quickly in the St. Louis River and spread to additional rivers and bays along southern and western Lake Superior. Today, there are also substantial populations of Eurasian Ruffe in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Prevent Its Spread

Various fish-killing chemicals are being investigated to help control populations of Eurasian ruffe in the Great Lakes. These include those already being used to control other invasives, like the sea lamprey. But since these fish first made their way in through ship transport, one clear way to keep them from entering other waterways is to make sure boats are clean before each use.

If a Eurasian ruffe is caught, fishermen should photograph the fish from several angles to help officials identify it. The ruffe can be stored in a plastic bag and frozen and then sent to fisheries biologists for evaluation. The date and location of its capture should also be recorded.

Sources:

  1. http://science.time.com/2013/12/04/forget-the-asian-carp-heres-a-new-great-lakes-invasive-species-to-worry-about/
  2. http://epa.gov/greatlakes/invasive/index.html
  3. https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/our-work/focus-areas/ais/invasive-species/invasive-species-fact-sheets/fish/eurasian-ruffe/
  4. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=7
  5. https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/invasives/Documents/Response/Status/egle-ais-gymnocephalus-cernua.pdf?rev=39f9eee0382c4557bc401adcaaf6cc53
  6. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/great-lakes/great-lakes-aquatic-invasive-species-/ 
  7. http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Pages/IllinoisAnglersEncouragedtobeontheLookoutforEurasianRuffeinIllinoisWaters.aspx
  8. https://mdc.mo.gov/magazines/conservationist/2008-01/not-state
  9. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=7
BUY AT FONDRIEST.COM
New NexSens XB200 Data Buoy
  • Recent Posts

    • A small mountain pond and fells surrounding Bárrás. August 2006. The region is dominated by arctic lakes and ponds much like this.Research Brief: Measuring Oxygen and Temperature Changes in Arctic Lakes Impacted by Climate ChangeMay 12, 2025
    • Spring 2025 Environmental Monitor Available NowMay 7, 2025
    • Research Brief: CyanoHABs Forecasting in Satellite Monitored LakesMay 5, 2025
    • Supplying Seattle’s Drinking Water: Using Data Buoys to Monitor the Cedar River Municipal WatershedApril 30, 2025
    • A high-mountain lake in Manti-La Sal National Forest.Research Brief: Threats to High-Mountain Lakes in the AlpsApril 28, 2025
  • Popular Tags

    Great Lakes research summary research pollution research brief Lake Erie Algae invasive species Product Spotlight climate change lake research lake science runoff nutrient-loading dissolved oxygen Lake Michigan international temperature Ohio eutrophication EPA toxic waters ice phosphorus USGS

©2025 Fondriest Environmental Inc. | Questions? Call 888.426.2151 or email customercare@fondriest.com