(LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN)---In an attempt to learn the effects, if any, of the recent opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway on several types of fish in Lake Pontchartrain, the University of New Orleans is joining with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Nekton Research Laboratory to closely monitor the lake's fisheries.

University officials say that for eight years now, the Nekton Lab, based at UNO, has been taking monthly samples of Lake Pontchartrain's fisheries to monitor the health of species such as brown shrimp, blue crabs, redfish, and speckled trout.

Wildlife and Fisheries officials are now asking that the samples should be taken on a weekly basis, in the western part of the lake, until the threat of potential algae blooms and fish kills ends. State researchers will take similar samples on the eastern side of the lake.

UNO says that scientists from all three groups will combine their data, perform an analysis, and then present the findings later. It's not the first time that UNO, Nekton, and LDWF worked together to learn more about and better manage the state's natural resources, as LDWF has an office at UNO's Research and Technology Park.

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