Chinook Salmon Stocking

Lake Michigan Citizen�s Fishery Advisory Committee,



Since the Lake Michigan Committee (LMC) proposal to reduce Chinook salmon stocking by 62%, each agency has received consistent feedback from stakeholders that we should consider lake trout stocking reductions along with our proposal and not reduce the full 62% of Chinook salmon. We also heard of angler interest to increase harvest opportunity for lake trout. Below are proposals that the LMC has agreed to:



Regulations

The states of Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois will pursue an increase lake trout bag limit from 2 fish per day to 3 fish per day. This will align with Michigan�s regulations of 3 fish per day in MM6-8.Michigan will pursue a possession season of �open all year� for MM6-8 to align with the states of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois.Michigan will also pursue opening drowned river mouth lakes that currently have a closed season.

Chinook Stocking Reduction Alternative

A new proposal for a Chinook salmon stocking reduction is to only reduce stocking by 50% of current levels. The new proposal is described in the table below. Under this alternative proposal, Michigan�s Chinook stocking would go from 560,000 to 300,000, which would be a reduction of 46% from current levels.

State
Current
Proposed
Percent

New Proposal
Percent

Wisconsin
810,000
355,000
56%

425,000
47%

Michigan
560,000
200,000
64%

300,000
46%

Illinois
230,000
90,000
61%

120,000
48%

Indiana
200,000
45,000
78%

60,000
70%

Total
1,800,000
690,000
61.5%

905,000
50%




Lake Trout Stocking Reduction

The total lake trout stocking in yearling equivalents averaged about 3,190,000 in recent years. The proposal would reduce stocking to 2,540,000, which is about a 21% reduction in lake trout lake-wide. All reductions will be outside the 1836 Consent Decree waters until a plan for further lake trout reductions can be reviewed and approved by the consent decree Technical Fisheries Committee.



The lake trout reduction includes discontinuation of 550,000 fall fingerling (220,000 yearling equivalents) lake trout stocking that was approved by the LMC in 2015 and implemented in 2016.



The Mid-Lake Reef Complex (Sheboygan, Northeast, and Milwaukee reefs) will be reduced by 300,000 or 50%.



Second priority lake trout stocking sites outside consent decree waters will be reduced 100%. This includes Grand Haven (20,000), Holland (40,000), New Buffalo (20,000), Michigan City (40,000), Sturgeon Bay (80,000), Kewaunee (20,000), and Wind Point (50,000).



Future lake trout stocking changes will depend on negotiations with the 1836 Tribal Nations. We will propose to reduce all second priority stocking sites from Grand Haven to the north including Ludington, Manistee, Pointe Betsie, Good Harbor, Old Mission, Grand Traverse Bay Shoal, Torch Lake and Elk Rapids. If that plan is approved, we could redistribute some lake trout to areas that were reduced 100% to maintain nearshore fisheries.



The Michigan Marquette State Fish Hatchery raises about 49,500 lake trout for Grand Haven, Holland, and New Buffalo. We will continue to stock those fish with New Buffalo receiving 12,500 and Grand Haven and Holland each receiving 18,500.



The Lake Michigan Committee will more formally include Lake Trout management in future stocking decisions to help achieve predator and prey balance in Lake Michigan and also meet rehabilitation goals.



The Chinook salmon and lake trout proposals will be further discussed at public meetings:



September 7th

Ludington City Hall

Community Room

400 S. Harrison Street

Ludington, MI 49431



September 13th

South Haven Moose Lodge

1025 Wells Street

South Haven, MI 49090



Both meetings will start at 6:30 PM



Please let me know if you have any questions.



Jay





Jay Wesley

Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Fisheries Division

621 N. 10th Street

Plainwell, MI 49080

269-685-6851 Ext. 117