The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stocks roughly 100,000 Atlantic salmon annually in the St. Marys River, Lake Huron, and other waterways.
For the 2024 season, Atlantic salmon were reared for stocking at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery.
Hatchery-raised fish were released in four locations:
- Torch Lake received 15,883 fish
- The Au Sable River received 25,000 fish
- The Thunder Bay River received 25,000 fish
- Lexington Harbor in Lake Huron received 40,000 fish
- The St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie received nearly 27,000 fish
Atlantic salmon are a species of interest in the Great Lakes region due to their historical presence and potential for sport fishing.
Various state natural resources and wildlife agencies have conducted Atlantic salmon stocking programs in the Great Lakes between 2020 and the present.
The Center for Freshwater Research and Education based out of Lake Superior State University also contributes to Atlantic salmon stocking efforts.
The organization stocks between 30,000 to 40,000 Atlantic salmon annually in the St. Marys River. The program is part of a broader effort to restore native fish populations in the Great Lakes.
sources: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lake Superior State University
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