Hannahville Indian Community Donates $10K to Walleye Restoration in the Bays de Noc

ESCANABA, MI - Friday, June 4, 2010 - The effort to restock the Bays de Noc with walleye got a big boost this month as the Hannahville Indian Community elected to donate half of the money estimated for the project.

The movement towards restocking the Bays was brought about by a cooperative of concerned citizens, business owners and community leaders calling themselves Walleye Restoration. They held their first meeting in April of 2010, identifying the total cost of $20,000 to purchase 10,000 fish for the restock.

The donation was announced on Monday, May 17 at the Walleye Restoration meeting. Dave Anthony, member of the Chamber Legislative, Economic and Community Development Council as well as the person unofficially taking the lead in the Walleye Restoration effort, praised Kenneth Meshigaud, Tribal Chairperson of the Hannahville Indian Community. Anthony continued by saying that with Tribal interest in preserving and protecting natural resources, this project is a good match. Kenneth Meshigaud added, "We at Hannahville are glad to partner with Native and Non-Native sportsmen in protecting our resources. It is the right thing to do, and who doesn't like to go fishing?" Neither the Hannahville Indian Community, nor any of its members operate any commercial fishing operations.

Along with the large donation announcement, Michigan DNRE officials Kelley Smith, Chief of the Fisheries Division, and Jim Dexter, Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator for the Fisheries Division, were present to discuss environmental concerns and the possibility of obtaining guidance from the DNRE to continue with the effort. Kelley Smith said of the effort, "Stocking isn't always the panacea, and it can be overdone. However, stocking is a great tool in our toolbox." When discussing future goals for the effort, Smith elaborated, "The long-term goal should be to make sure habitat is conducive to natural reproduction."

Both representatives from the DNRE praised the positive message of a community working to positively impact natural resources like the Bays de Noc fishery. The DNRE officials also offered assurance in the availability of the state permits for the fish planting procedures.

Habitat considerations identified by the group include monitoring and reducing negative inputs to the Bays in the form of rivers and inland lakes, and evaluating the forage base to support a larger walleye population.

Something as simple as an increased silt load from a road crossing over a river can overwhelm and cover the reefs in the Bay where the walleye go to spawn. Industrial or home wastes released into the Bays can also affect the walleye population. This can significantly impact natural reproduction. At this time, group members are researching specific areas to champion over the summer as part of the restoration effort.

This June, the DNRE will release 2-3" fingerlings with the help of the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sports Fishermen, Inc., and other stakeholders. The money currently being raised is earmarked for a release of 7-10" advanced walleye fingerlings, which have a near 100% survival rate when released in the Bays.

In the coming months, the group plans to continue to identify ways to assist in any rehab efforts identified in the Little Bay de Noc that would support a higher rate of natural reproduction in the walleye population. The group is continually seeking enthusiastic partners and donors to join in the project. This is an ongoing initiative, with the group's intent to evolve and continue to meet more sophisticated challenges in the future to promote the fishery's long-term health. For more information, please contact Paul Strom, attorney for the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sportsfishermen, at (906) 789-3160. Interested parties may also contact the Delta County Chamber of Commerce at (906) 786-2192 or by email at info@deltami.org.