Three hatcheries in the Upper Peninsula have contributed to Michigan’s successful spring and summer fish stocking by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources— a total of 9,118,112 fish that weighed nearly 321 tons.
These and other hatcheries also boost another arm of the state’s economy — tourism – they are unique tourist attractions in their own right, drawing increasing numbers of visitors, according to the DNR.
Each hatchery, whether in the U.P or downstate, has unique features and a unique contribution to Michigan’s fisheries, as visitors are learning.
“A lot of people realize what wonderful resources we have in the state of Michigan,” says Jeremiah Blaauw, a DNR fisheries biologist, “and are definitely taking advantage of the outdoors.”
What’s happening: For more than 100 years, Michigan fish hatcheries have been the source of fish species that are stocked in both inland lakes and the Great Lakes. Statewide, 10 species and one hybrid are raised in six state hatcheries to provide both Michigan residents and visiting anglers with quality fishing opportunities that bring an estimated $4.2 billion into the state's economy and help support
a Great Lakes fishery valued at more than $7 billion.
But the business of raising sport fish has its own allure, especially since a pandemic that has spurred interest in outdoor activities, the DNR’s Blaauw says. At Thompson State Fish Hatchery near Fayette State Park, for instance, visitors can view a show pond filled with large trout, as well as take a self-guided tour of hatchery operations.
Farther north, at Marquette State Fish Hatchery, “I can tell you we've seen an uptick in numbers, not only with visitors on the weekends and throughout the work week, but also different user groups,” Blaauw says. “We do a lot of tours with Boy Scouts and then extended education through college campuses. And we've seen an increase in numbers in 2024.”
The U.P. hatcheries:
Marquette State Fish Hatchery, established in 1920, is the primary broodstock and rearing facility for brook and lake trout for both inland and Great Lakes waters. The Marquette hatchery also rears splake -- a hybrid species that is a cross between lake trout and brook trout. In 2024, the DNR reports that Marquette stocked 323,710 yearling lake trout, brook trout and splake that in total weighed 41,771 pounds.
“We had another good year with all of our rearing assignments, our allocated fish numbers, and meeting our target goals for the U.P.,” Blaauw says.
The Marquette hatchery is also rearing
Arctic Grayling as part of an effort to eventually reintroduce to Michigan lakes a species that no longer exists naturally here. The initiative has been underway since 2015 in a cooperative project between the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“I think that's a very unique one,” Blaauw says, “because they're extinct in Michigan; we haven't had grayling in Michigan for quite some time.”
In addition to the show pond with large trout, the hatchery features indoor and outdoor interpretative areas and albino fish.
The Marquette State Fish Hatchery is open at no charge to the public, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and weekends, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To schedule group tours, call 906-249-1611, ext. 324.
Thompson State Fish Hatchery near Manistique stocked 1,171,696 fish in 2024 — yearling steelhead and spring fingerling Chinook salmon—that weighed 102,442 pounds. This hatchery stocked 64 sites, most of them located on the Great Lakes. Established in 1922, Thompson also raises walleye for both inland and Great Lakes waters. Thompson State Fish Hatchery is open daily to the public at no charge.
In addition to those two hatcheries, Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie is home to a
cooperative teaching hatchery. That hatchery is stocked with 19,285 Atlantic salmon weighing 1,849 pounds. Formerly the Aquatic Research Laboratory (ARL), the
CFRE Fish Hatchery is a student-run hatchery located on the St. Marys River where students can get hands-on, year-round aquaculture experience. “That's a really big, important partnership for our Atlantic salmon program,” Blaauw says, and the source of salmon eggs to raise in other hatcheries.
How the hatcheries work: Fish are reared in Michigan's state fish hatcheries anywhere from one month to one-and-a-half years before they are stocked in lakes and streams. To transport fish for stocking, the DNR loads 17 specialized trucks starting in early spring; in 2024, it took 451 trips, traveling more than 100,000 miles and 2,829 hours, to visit 691 stocking sites. The
number and type of fish produced vary by hatchery, as the source and temperature of the water determine which fish can be raised in that location.
“Like here at Marquette,” Blaauw says, “we only raise lake trout and splake, where Thompson will raise chinook and rainbows, and they also raise muskie and walleye.”
“But just because we're in the U.P. doesn't mean the fish that we produce only go to the UP,” Blaauw adds. “Marquette will put lake trout and splake down below the bridge, and Thompson will be taking Chinook salmon and steelhead down below the bridge ... Likewise, for hatcheries down below the bridge, they'll bring them to the U.P.”
Rosemary Parker has worked as a writer and editor for more than 40 years. She is a regular contributor to Rural Innovation Exchange, UPword, and other Issue Media Group publications.