• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / Lake Michigan salmon populations remain strong, study shows

Lake Michigan salmon populations remain strong, study shows

March 11, 2015 By WRN Contributor

A new study shows that Chinook salmon introduced into Lake Michigan by Wisconsin hatcheries are performing well in the waters.

The multi-year study looked at salmon catches and specifically attempted to track farmed and stocked salmon as they were introduced over the years by various natural resources departments across the region. The study shows that fish raised and released in Wisconsin have had an above average chance of survival until it was time to spawn. Wisconsin bred and released fish accounted for some 49 percent of stocked fish harvested throughout the lake and 57 percent of the stocked fish taken in Wisconsin waters.

DNR northern Lake Michigan fisheries supervisor Dave Boyarski says experts from across the region are also seeing the salmon taking a firm hold of the ecosystem and breeding without the help of the hatcheries. “Some of the rates have been upwards of 60 percent over the last few years, which is a high number of naturally reproducing fish on the lakes. So anglers are benefiting from our stocking programs, as well as the natural reproduction in some of the tributary streams to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.” Most of the tributaries to Lake Michigan in Wisconsin lack the structure and clarity required for the salmon, so stocking is still essential to the fish’s population.

Boyarski says the study shows that the fish are migrating heavily to follow prey species. “And what we’re finding is, in the summertime, that fish could have come from anywhere in Lake Michigan. Be it state of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, or even Lake Huron.”

The study also found that natural reproduction is strong now, that may change over the next few years. Lower lake levels and stream flows during 2102 and the subsequent harsh winter from 2013-2014 hurt the populations of both the salmon and the prey fish in the lake. Only 37 percent of the fish from the 2013 year class were wild fish.

Boyarski says experts from around the region will be using this data to help refine how and where they stock the salmon over the coming years. They will also be keeping an eye on the future of the lakes as more invasive species threaten the ecosystem. “It takes a lot of effort and a lot of funding to pull this off, a lot of working with partners, and I think what you’re seeing in these results is information that’s really going to manage this fishery into the future and that it’s a good fishery.”

WSAU

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Recreation / Entertainment



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC