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Phone: 231-584-2461 E-mail: JordanRiver@fws.gov |
Fish Stocking Vessels
Lake Trout Stocking
Restoration of fishes in their native habitats is among the highest priorities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To achieve this, the Service has stocked more than 29 million yearling lake trout into Lakes Huron and Michigan during the past nine years. Offshore stocking is the only method available to promote the colonization of historically productive offshore reefs by yearling lake trout (a strategy specified in multi-agency restoration plans for Lakes Huron and Michigan). Mature lake trout now abundant on offshore reefs in Lakes Huron and Michigan, especially those designated as refuges by fishery agencies, are the direct result of the offshore stocking capabilities of the current fish stocking vessel, the M/V Togue. Recent assessment data from Lake Huron has shown that this offshore stocking strategy provides an added benefit of higher survival. Yearling lake trout released offshore survive at a higher rate than those fish released near shore.
Offshore Operations
Offshore stocking operations typically begin in mid-April each year and continue through the end of June. In 2005, the Togue traveled 1,001 statue miles to 11 reefs in Lake Huron and 1,469 statue miles to 22 reefs in Lake Michigan between April 27 and July 3. Lake trout from three National Fish Hatcheries; Jordan River (Elmira, Michigan), Pendills Creek (Brimley, Michigan) and Iron River (Iron River, Wisconsin) are stocked. The Togue is the only hatchery fish distribution vessel operating on the Great Lakes. The vessels' home port is Cheboygan, Michigan.
M/V Togue
The M/V Togue was built in 1975 as a shrimp trawler and operated for 12 years before being confiscated in Florida by the U.S. Customs Service for carrying contraband. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service acquired the Togue in 1989 and retrofitted it for stocking lake trout in the Great Lakes. The Togue's last distribution was in 2006. It will be replaced by the M/V Spencer F. Baird.
M/V Spencer F. Baird
A replacement vessel for the Togue has been built and is expected to be put into use in 2007. It is named the M/V Spencer F. Baird for the founder of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries (the predecessor of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). The new vessel is needed to continue the successful offshore stocking program requested and supported by State, Tribal, and Federal fishery agencies. The Baird has been specifically designed for lake trout stocking and will also have sampling capabilities to support hatchery product evaluation programs. The approximate cost for the new vessel is $7.5 million.
Visit the Baird's own website to learn more about it.
