State adds 9 million fish to local waterways

More than 9 million fish from state hatcheries have been added to the Great Lakes and inland waters across Michigan so far this year as part of the state's annual stocking program.

From Atlantic salmon to walleye, the Department of Natural Resources said it has spent more than 2,200 hours and travelled 89,000 miles during the spring and summer this year to add nearly 300 pounds of fish to boost Michigan’s fisheries and fishing activities.

"We had excellent spring and summer stocking seasons that will bring significant benefits and fishing opportunities to Michigan anglers," said Ed Eisch, DNR fish production manager. 

This year’s stocking efforts included 2.7 million walleye spring fingerlings that were raised by department staff and tribal partners in local ponds and were added to 90 inland lakes and rivers as well as Lake Michigan.

"With the hard work and dedication of our staff, healthy, high-quality fish were reared and delivered to stocking sites in excellent condition,” Eisch said. “The numbers produced and stocked were right on target for most areas." 

According to the DNR, the agency's stocking program helps support the Great Lakes Fishery. The Great Lakes Fishery is valued at $7 billion and encompasses waterways and fisheries in both the U.S. and Canada. Recreational fishing contributes to the state's economy as well, bringing in an estimated $2.3 billion every year, according to a study from Michigan United Conservation Groups.

The state operates six hatcheries across Michigan and works with two cooperative hatcheries to raise and produce the fish for the stocking program.

This year, the Marquette State Fish Hatchery stocked more than 340,000 yearling trout and other types of fish, while the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Kalamazoo stocked nearly 1.5 million fish including yearling steelhead and muskellunge. The other state fish hatcheries that contributed fish to the stocking program this year were Thompson Hatchery near Manistique, Oden Hatchery near Petoskey, Harrietta Hatchery in Harrietta and Platte River Hatchery near Honor, as well as the Lake Superior State University cooperative teaching hatchery in Sault Sainte Marie.

Additional fish stockings will take place this fall, including lake sturgeon from a cooperative hatchery in Tower, Michigan. 

The state’s hatcheries are open to the public, offering visitors a chance to see the process in action, the DNR said.