Do alewives cause water quality problems in ponds and lakes?
In two studies conducted by the Maine DEP, data indicated that alewives did not significantly alter water quality. A major factor in causing algal blooms is the introduction of phosphorus. After alewives spawn, the juveniles grow and incorporate phosphorus needed to develop, taking phosphorus with them when they return to the ocean. Typically, there is a decrease in total lake phosphorus due to alewife emigration.
