The Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Fisheries Program has released one million walleye into Michigan waters

Mich. (WLUC) – The Chippewa Indian Tribe of Sault Ste. Marie has announced the results of this year’s walleye and whitefish stocking efforts.

Since 1995, 20 million walleye have been introduced into the ecosystem as part of their fish farming program. This year, over one million walleye and 45,421 whitefish were released into Northern Michigan waters.

Austin Lowes, chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, said the program fills them with great pride.

“We want to be good stewards of the environment,” Lowes said. “We want to give more to the fisheries than we take, and we want to leave the next seven generations with more resources than we currently have.”

Jack Tuomikoski, the program’s lead fisheries biologist, said invasive species such as mussels have decimated whitefish populations in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

“I like to say, ‘The book is not written on whitefish,'” Tuomikoski said. “We’re on chapter one. So we’re learning a lot every year and it’s aimed at improving the sustainability of these animals. It’s good work and groundbreaking work.”

He added that the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe has a millennial relationship with these animals. Walleye are popular with people who fish commercially, fish for subsistence to fill their freezers, and sport fishermen.

Tuomikoski said the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe’s program is dedicated to researching and developing techniques to raise these species.

Lowes added that the program will continue to breed new populations of whitefish and walleye and release them into the waters when they reach the necessary size.

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