DNR Meeting on Stocking Salmon

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Contact: Jay Wesley, 269-685-6851 (ext. 117) or Elyse Walter, 517-284-5839

Public meetings on future Lake Michigan salmon stocking scheduled 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has scheduled two public meetings in west Michigan next month to discuss Lake Michigan salmon-stocking proposals.

The meetings will be held Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ludington City Hall community room, 400 S. Harrison Street, and Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the South Haven Moose Lodge, 1025 Wells Street.

Much information has been swirling throughout Michigan and other states that border Lake Michigan on how fisheries managers will address future trout and salmon populations. Lake Michigan’s Chinook salmon population has been steadily decreasing since its peak in 2012, mainly due to a decline in the salmons' primary food source – alewife.

In light of these trends, the DNR is considering a Chinook salmon-stocking reduction for spring 2017 and also is reviewing Lake Michigan’s growing lake trout population (another top predator of alewife).

For more information, including details on these proposed actions, please visit Michigan.gov/fishing and scroll down to Angler Alerts. All interested parties are welcome to attend the upcoming meetings to share their thoughts. Fisheries managers will be present to answer questions.