Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
DNR seeking input for Lake Michigan stocking plan
Paul A. Smith 10 hrs ago
CLEVELAND - The Department of Natural Resources is looking for comments to guide its 2020-'23 Lake Michigan salmon and trout stocking program.
That's fine as far as ticking the box for public input goes.
The problem with the agency's approach is it's like asking a group of sweet-lovers how much candy they want at Halloween.
That's right, more.
And to make matters more complex, there's a limited amount of treats to go around, so there will be pushing and shoving.
Further, some of the gang have jobs and livelihoods associated with the publicly-supplied goodies.
So when the DNR presented the latest Lake Michigan fisheries data and solicited comments Monday night at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, you heard calls for stocking increases of various species and for a variety of reasons.
That was expected.
But what's not clear is whether a stocking increase is warranted, nor whether the DNR will implement one.
State fisheries managers were mute on the subjects Monday.
"At this point, we're collecting public comments," said Brad Eggold, Lake Michigan fisheries manager. "Decisions haven't been made."
The Lake Michigan salmon and trout fishery is a matter of large importance culturally, since it's been a part of life in harbors on Wisconsin's east coast for generations, and economically, as it (combined with Lake Superior) generates $185.4 million dollars in economic activity per year, according to state figures.
Since the native fish community was shredded by invasive aquatic species over the last century and the food web has been ravaged in recent decades by non-native dressenid mussels, stocking salmon and trout is a delicate balancing act.
a close up of a map: The biomass of prey fish in Lake Michigan has increased over the last three years, but still remains at a historically low level, according to scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey.
© U.S. Geological Survey The biomass of prey fish in Lake Michigan has increased over the last three years, but still remains at a historically low level, according to scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Too many predators risks a collapse of the fishery. Too few could adversely affect tourism and angling.
Several stocking reductions in Lake Michigan, the most recent in 2013, have helped keep the fishery relatively healthy, according to fisheries biologists.
Chinook salmon have dominated the DNR's stocking, including a record high 2.89 million in 1984.
But the number has dropped and the last time it was higher than 1 million was 2012, when it was 1.18 million. A chinook stocking reduction of 32% was implemented in 2013, when the DNR stocked 802,061 chinook. The number has been held relatively stable since, averaging 823,386 chinooks annually from 2014 through 2018.
For 2018, the DNR stocked 844,554 chinook, 390,955 brown trout, 362,979 coho, 311,147 steelhead and 130,742 Arlee strain rainbow trout in Wisconsin waters, according to DNR data. In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service planted 150,891 lake trout last year.
However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stocking number is misleading, because about 150,000 lake trout were also stocked on the Mid-Lake Reef complex, but on the Michigan side of the state line, and therefore not counted in Wisconsin's total.
For 2019, the agencies plan to stock 810,000 chinook, 408,000 brown trout, 365,000 coho and 358,313 steelhead, 300,000 lake trout and 101,700 Arlee strain rainbows.
The DNR is looking for comments on its stocking strategy for 2020-'23.
What's the right number?
The data show a mixed picture.
Among the positive news, the fish trended large last year, a sign they found ample forage.
The DNR reported the average weight of 3-year-old female chinook salmon captured lakewide in 2018 was 20.6 pounds, highest on record dating to 1986.
And the standard weight of 35-inch chinook last year was 17.5 pounds, above average over the last three decades.
The larger fish are likely linked to a 33% chinook stocking cut in Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan in 2013, as well as 50% cut in brown trout and lake trout in 2017.
Annual prey fish surveys in 2018 also reported an uptick. The alewife biomass was 0.54 kilograms/hectare in 2018, up from the all-time low of 0.02 in 2017. And the total prey fish biomass was 6.22 kg/ha in 2018 compared to 3.77 in 2017.
In addition to alewife, bloater chub, smelt, deepwater sculpin and slimy sculpin also showed year-over-year increases.
Other signs are not as rosy.
The lakewide catch of chinook salmon by charter boats fell to 52,512 fish in 2018, the fourth consecutive decline, and is now just 25% of the harvest seen in 2012 and 50% of the average catch since 1990.
And the Predator Prey Ratio in 2018 was 0.068, fourth highest since 1972. The calculation takes multiple factors into account and is an expression of the balance of big fish to forage. The goal is 0.05; values of 0.10 or higher are a "red flag."
Nick Legler, DNR fisheries biologist, said the 2018 value was only recently calculated and fisheries personnel from around the lake would begin discussing its significance.
The highest PPR observed was 0.076 in 2012, part of the data that led fisheries managers to enact the 2013 stocking cut.
So what to do now? Stakeholders might differ on specifics, but most, if not all, would like to see a stocking increase beginning next year.
Tom Kleiman of Kewaunee, president of the Wisconsin Lakeshore Business Association, would like to see increases in plants of chinook and brown trout. And in a blast from the past, he'd like to see a "coaster" brook trout program resuscitated.
a person standing in front of a building: Andrew Becker of Jack's Charter Service cleans a chinook salmon caught Aug. 4, 2018 during Brew City Salmon Tourney. The salmon was among 1,296 pounds of filleted fresh fish donated to Hunger Task Force for distribution to food pantries in Milwaukee County.
© Paul A. Smith / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Andrew Becker of Jack's Charter Service cleans a chinook salmon caught Aug. 4, 2018 during Brew City Salmon Tourney. The salmon was among 1,296 pounds of filleted fresh fish donated to Hunger Task Force for distribution to food pantries in Milwaukee County.
Herb Twiss of Kohler would like to see more attention given to the needs of shore and tributary fishermen.
"I’ve seen the fishing on the Sheboygan River go downhill, downhill and downhill," Twiss said. "I’m not saying ignore the charter fishermen, but I don’t think you’re considering the impact of the shore fishermen, who bring more money coming into the state that you people think."
Eric Haataja, a licensed guide from West Allis who fishes the lake in all seasons, said he didn’t believe stocking more chinook was the right solution.
Instead, he’d like to see the DNR stock more steelhead and brown trout.
“The trout do not need alewives to survive,” Haataja said. “Shore fishermen, ice fishermen and river fishing could improve tremendously if we stock more trout not salmon and it would have less impact on the baitfish population.”
The only opinions not heard on the subject this week were from the people paid to manage the fishery on behalf of the public and the resource.
The agency will collect input until June 30.
It will then prepare a preliminary stocking plan, and convene another public meeting in early September in Cleveland.
The DNR expects to make its final 2020-'23 stocking decisions by Dec. 1.
To provide input through June 30, send the DNR comments by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
