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41
Smith: Stocking talk is contentious
Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 7:13 p.m. CDT August 31, 2016
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(Photo: Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Cleveland -- When the public gathered Monday at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland for a meeting on Lake Michigan trout and salmon stocking, it was likely to be contentious.
It met that expectation.
And while the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offered four options, it didn't take a leadership role and say which it supports.
Many at the meeting were frustrated by the uncertainty of the agency's stance; others left the meeting angry because they were denied a chance to vote on the stocking options. Their input will have to come in the form of a comment card, email or other communication to the agency.
The primary issue: a proposal by the Lake Michigan Committee to cut stocking in response to a record low forage biomass and high natural reproduction of chinook salmon.
About 140 people attended the meeting, the latest in a series of opportunities for the public to learn about and comment on Lake Michigan trout and salmon management. Turnout was especially heavy from the charter fishing industry, which has largely opposed a reduction in chinook stocking.
The meeting was hosted by the Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum. The forum is a group of sport anglers, commercial fishermen and fisheries biologists that meets periodically to consider fisheries issues; it is led by Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Todd Kalish, deputy fisheries director for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, opened the meeting by listing a goal with which most would agree: a sustainable fishery for current and future generations.
“It’s a world-class fishery and it’s an economic driver," Kalish said. "It also provides experiences that persevere through a lifetime and can start a lifetime of fishing for folks.”
If all parties want to pursue a common goal, Kalish said, it's important to have a common approach.
It became apparent relatively quickly, however, forging such a strategy will be difficult.
Fundamental disagreements remain between scientists and some anglers regarding basic facts of the fishery.
Trawling studies showed a record low biomass of alewife in Lake Michigan in 2015. But the fish were able to pull off a good year-class last year, and anglers are seeing alewife in very good numbers this year on the Wisconsin side of the lake. The alewife sightings this year have fueled skepticism among some anglers.
"Those of us on the water every day see some things the studies don't," said Kurt Pokrandt, a Milwaukee charter captain.
And although a sophisticated mass marking study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found about 60% of the chinook in Lake Michigan are naturally reproduced, most in attendance Monday think otherwise.
The audience was asked: How much is natural reproduction of chinook contributing to the overall fishery?
Thirty-one percent chose "less than 25%," 18% selected "25 to 50%," 12% said "not at all" and 12% opted for "not sure." Twenty-five percent of those in attendance selected "50 to 75%," the answer supported by U.S. Geological Survey trawling data.
Lake Michigan management was simpler 60 years ago. The population of the lake's top native predator -- lake trout -- had crashed and the lake was overrun with alewife, an invasive species.
Nonnative trout and salmon were planted in the lake beginning in the early 1960s to prey on the alewives.
With lots of food to eat, the introduced species of chinook and coho salmon and rainbow and brown trout fared very well and provided excellent sport fishing.
The fishery created a charter industry and helped draw tourists to communities around the lake. Many thousands of private sport anglers also participate in the fishery, from boats, piers and streams.
The DNR estimates $114 million in annual retail expenditures by Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Superior) sport anglers in Wisconsin. The agency lists 178,000 Great Lakes anglers on its license rolls.
Fisheries scientists point out two things that changed significantly in recent decades: chinook salmon began naturally reproducing (mostly in Michigan streams) and invasive mussels have reduced the lake's productivity. Lake trout, too, are naturally reproducing in places on Lake Michigan, the result of a decades-long restoration program.
It's no longer a put-and-take fishery. Mother Nature is now a major player in the number of top-line predators swimming in the lake.
Although anglers have largely supported four stocking reductions in the last 25 years (including a 50% chinook cut in 2013), this year's proposal is drawing substantial opposition.
Without saying Monday which it supports, the DNR offered four options: Maintain, or increase, all salmon and trout stocking numbers in Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan, except lake trout; status quo until another year of data is available; maintain 2016 (or very similar) chinook salmon stocking numbers but use "chinook equivalents" of other species to reduce overall number stocked; and the Lake Michigan Committee recommendation, which is a 50% chinook cut and 20% lake trout cut.
Tom Kleiman of Kewaunee said he supported the first option.
"None of us wants to crash the lake," Kleiman said. "But we think it's irresponsible to keep dumping millions of lake trout in each year."
The atmosphere of the meeting turned rancorous at several points.
"If you want to keep putting fish in, you’ll end up with Lake Huron Jr.," said Bob Wincek of New Berlin, referring to the lake's crash due to too many predator fish and too little forage.
Several in the crowd yelled at Wincek to "shut up."
Chris Groth, a DNR conservation warden, stood and asked for decorum. The crowd quieted, if only temporarily.
The atmosphere grew heated again when it became clear audience members -- who earlier were issued hand-held devices to electronically vote on several questions -- weren't going to be allowed to vote on the four stocking options.
A vote was not held Monday, said meeting facilitator Titus Seilheimer of the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, because most of the people at the meeting were visitors, not Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum members.
Over the coming months, the DNR said it will pursue changes in lake trout regulations, including a yearlong season and an increase in the bag limit (to either three or five fish per day). An emergency rule is likely to be in place in 2017.
Kalish said the DNR's goal at this point is to offer stocking options and collect input. He said the agency will make its recommendation known by Oct. 1.
Comments may be sent through Sept. 16 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
