Lake Michigan Salmon Stocking Strategy Process

1. Lake Michigan Salmon Stocking Strategy Process Dennis Eade – Michigan Steelheaders Todd Pollesch – Great Lakes Fishery Commission Advisor (Wisconsin)

2. Collaborative Process • The stocking reductions in 1999 and 2006 were determined by agencies and brought to the public for comment. • This year’s process involved stakeholders from the beginning.

3. Establishment of Goals and Objectives (Work Shop 1) • Stakeholder Meetings • April 2011 in Michigan • June 2011 in Wisconsin • Stakeholders represented various Lake Michigan angling organizations from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. • Both Stakeholders and Agencies Stated Goals and Objectives

4. Goals and Objectives • Stakeholder • Maintain ecosystem balance • Maximize harvest and catch rates • Maximize sport fish potential • Maximize sustainable benefits • Protect forage biomass • Minimize collapse of the forage base • Avoid loss of native species • Provide larger Chinook (16-18 lbs for age 3+) • Maintain stable fishery • Maintain a diverse fishery

5. Goals and Objectives • Agency • Maintain acceptable catch rates (8-12 fish/100 hrs) • Maintain a diverse fishery (>50% Chinook; >25 % other species) • Maintain good salmon growth (age 3 Chinook 7 kg [15.4 lbs], in late summer) • Maintain alewife at or below undesirable levels • Maintain adequate spawning stock biomass for lake trout

6. Core Stakeholder Group • Each agency chose individuals that: • Had good knowledge of the Lake Michigan ecosystem. • Represented a large organization. • Had the ability to network and share information . • This Stakeholder Group also Participated in 2 full day workshops.

7. Core Stakeholder Group • Jeff Sadula, Calumet harbor Sport Fish Association (Illinois) • Ed Makauska, Trollers Unlimited (Illinois) • Bill Meier, Salmon Unlimited (Illinois) • Mike Ratter, Salmon Unlimited (Indiana) • Mike Ryan, Great Lakes Fishery Commission Advisor (Indiana) • Jeff Guerra, Michiana Steelheaders (Indiana) • John Robertson, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (Michigan) • Denny Grinold, Great Lakes Fishery Commission Advisor (Michigan) • Dennis Eade, Michigan Steelheaders (Michigan) • Todd Pollesch, Great Lakes Fishery Commission Advisor (Wisconsin) • John Hanson, Great Lakes Sport Fish Federation (Wisconsin) • Duane Nadolski, Great Lakes Sport Fish Federation (Wisconsin)

8. Work Shop 2 Overview November 5th Portage, Indiana • Discussed How Managers Make Decisions • Reviewed Chinook salmon abundance, natural reproduction, growth, condition, and health • Reviewed prey abundance and forecasts • Learned about the Lake Michigan Decision Analysis Model • Developed scenarios to evaluate and refine the model

9. Work Shop 3 Overview January 23rd Chesterton, Indiana • Reviewed Lake Michigan Decision Analysis Model outcomes • Discussed model outcomes • Began discussions about stocking strategies

10. Stocking Strategies and Options • Three Stocking Strategies and a total of 16 stocking options were evaluated based on: • Goals and Objectives • Risk tolerance for low alewife abundance (20% or less) • Based on email comments from stakeholders and agencies, four options were adopted for further public review

11. Next Steps • Communicate the State of Lake Michigan to the Public • Further Discussion of the proposed stocking options • Assist agencies in making an informed decision to meet fishery goals and objectives

12. Thank you