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An Evaluation of Stocking Strategies in Wisconsin with an Analysis of Projected Stocking Needs By

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An Evaluation of Stocking Strategies in Wisconsin with an Analysis of Projected Stocking Needs By An Evaluation of Stocking Strategies in Wisconsin with an Analysis of Projected Stocking Needs by The Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection 101 S. Webster Street P.O. Box 7921 Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921 for The Joint Legislative Audit Committee State Capitol Madison, Wisconsin 53703 April 1999 iii NOTES _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ii Contents Report Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... i Contents ........................................................................................................................................................................ ii Notes ....................................................................................................................................................................... iii I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 Management Goals ............................................................................................................................... 1 Stocking Strategies .............................................................................................................................. 1 Stocking Guidelines .............................................................................................................................2 Stock Integrity and Natural Reproduction .............................................................................. 3 Stocking Plans and Quota Requests ............................................................................................4 II. Species-specific Stocking Guidelines ..............................................................................................4 Great Lakes Trout and Salmon ....................................................................................................... 5 Inland Trout............................................................................................................................................ 10 Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass ........................................................................................... 14 Lake Sturgeon ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Muskellunge.......................................................................................................................................... 19 Northern Pike ........................................................................................................................................23 Walleye ....................................................................................................................................................28 III. Summary and Recommendations .................................................................................................... 33 Management Recommendations .............................................................................................. 33 IV. Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................................... 35 v. Appendices .................................................................................................................................................... 37 i Report Summary n 1997, the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau published a report on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fish propagation and stocking programs, entitled An Evaluation Fish Stocking Department of Natural Resources Report 97-9, which recommended the DNR evaluate several aspects of its stocking program. This report specifically addresses the long- range stocking goals for the DNR and projected long-term propagation needs using the best Iavailable scientific information. This plan promotes the most effective use of stocking in the overall management of Wisconsins fisheries using a goal-oriented, species- and water-specific approach that minimizes impacts to existing self-sustained populations. Species-specific stocking guidelines were reviewed and, where needed, revised to reflect current scientific knowledge. Recommended changes include: a shift from domestic to wild trout for the inland trout program; reduced emphasis on the maintenance stocking of bass; an increase in restorative sturgeon stocking; an increased emphasis on evaluation of muskellunge stocking practices; northern pike stocking based on suitable habitat and published survival rates resulting in increased opportunities for stocking; opportunities for increased walleye stocking; and, no major changes to the Great Lakes trout and salmon stocking program. Overall recommendations include protection of existing naturally reproducing populations, more evaluation and use of appropriate genetic strains, long-term quota development, elimination of per-water maximums for planning purposes to better identify potentials for contract or cooperator involvement; and the formation of a stocking team that keeps stocking and propagation on the cutting-edge of fisheries management. Based on the best available information, annual stocking of over 11 million fish (primarily finger- lings) is needed to sustain and enhance the sport fishery in Wisconsin (Table 1). This projected level of stocking was arrived at independent of current hatchery production capacity. Table 1. Summary of Projected Wisconsin Stocking Goals Fish Species (size) Statewide Annual Stocking Goal Walleye (2- 4 fingerlings) 6.5 million Muskellunge (7+ fingerlings) 140,000 Northern Pike (3-7 fingerlings) 150,000 Black bass (2 fingerlings) 210,000 Lake Sturgeon(3+ fingerlings) 75,000 Inland Trout 1.5 million Great Lakes Trout
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