Thomas Brooking

• Fisheries and Wildlife – SUNY Cobleskill, 1991; Engineering Science – SUNY Canton, 1989

Tom’s research focuses mainly on Oneida Lake, though statewide projects are also performed on a regular basis. Major projects include long-term fisheries monitoring and community interactions of walleye and yellow perch on Oneida Lake, and various bass, panfish and esocid projects. Past projects have included evaluation of stocked walleye survival, acoustic evaluation of alewife populations, and special studies on Canadarago Lake, NY. Projects often involve significant interaction with NYSDEC, USGS, USFWS, SUNY ESF and the angling public, along with collaboration with various university researchers. Recently the NYS Fish Sampling Manual was updated for the NYSDEC. Specific sampling includes weekly fisheries surveys such as trawling, gillnetting, fry sampling and electrofishing; also trap netting, seining, hydroacoustics, fish aging using scales and otoliths, diet analysis, underwater video, and design/construction/repair of sampling gear. Tom works closely with summer interns and assists graduate students on various projects, along with report writing and presentation of findings at professional society meetings.

Selected Publications

• Brooking, T. E., J. Loukmas, J. R. Jackson, A. J. VanDeValk. 2018. Black bass and sunfish sampling manual for lakes and ponds in NY. Sportfish Restoration Grant F-63-R, Job 2-2.3. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. 62 pp.
• Brooking, T. E., J. R. Jackson, L. G. Rudstam, A. J. VanDeValk. 2016. Fisheries Surveys of Canadarago Lake, NY 1972-2014. Final Report. New York Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Study F-61-R, Job 1-2. Cornell University Warmwater Fisheries Unit. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. 95 pp.
• Brooking, T. E. and L. G. Rudstam. 2009. Hydroacoustic target strength distributions of alewife in a net cage compared with field surveys: Deciphering target strength distributions and effect on density estimates. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 138: 471-486.
• Brooking, T. E., L. G. Rudstam, S. D. Krueger, J. R. Jackson, A. B. Welsh, and W. W. Fetzer. 2010. First occurrence of the mysid Hemimysis anomala in an inland lake in North America, Oneida Lake, NY. Journal of Great Lakes Research 36(3):577-581. Received Highly Cited Paper Award of 2012.
• Brooking, T. E. and J. R. Jackson, A. J. VanDeValk, L. G. Rudstam. 2002. Factors affecting survival of stocked walleye in New York lakes: The final year of stocking. Progress Report 1991-2001. NY Federal Aid Study VII, Job 102. NYSDEC Albany, NY. 36 pp

In the News

• Record-sized fish: Cornell researchers net sturgeon more than 6 feet long on Oneida Lake

• Nice catch: Cornell scientists net 139-pound Oneida Lake sturgeon

• DEC Announces Oneida Lake Adult Walleye Population Hits One Million Fish