Fish Habitat Research - Propagation

Fish propagation (and subsequent stocking) is generally used as part of an integrated approach in the management of lakes and streams.

As part of a managment plan, stocking would be used to accomplish specific objectives for the waterbody through one of the following strategies:

• Introduction
  This includes instances where a species is introduced into a newly created water or to expand the range of a species. Ideally, the introduction results in the establishment of a self-sustained fishery with minimal impacts on existing fisheries.
• Rehabilitation
  An interim measure to re-establish formerly self-sustained populations that have been extirpated or severely reduced by catastrophic natural or intentional sources of mortality (e.g., winterkill, disease, chemical spill, mechanical removal, drainage of flowages, dam failures, chemical reclamation).
• Research or Evaluation
  Experimental stocking done in conjunction with a research or evaluation project intended to determine the cost-effectiveness of stocking practices or other management actions.
• Remediation (maintenance)
  

  Stocking to maintain an existing fishery that has been reduced due to external impacts (e.g., loss of spawning habitat, invasion of exotic species, long-term changes in species composition) that cannot be readily corrected. This strategy would also include instances where restoration of predator/prey imbalance is sought.

• Recreation (maintenance)
  Stocking to create or maintain a recreational fishing opportunity that did not previously exist and is not self-sustaining. This type of fishery will usually have some effect on existing fisheries, and is typically dependent upon stocking for continued existence.

All of these stocking strategies are currently used on Wisconsin waters. Priority is usually given to rehabilitation stockings that promise to establish self-sustained fisheries, or to research or evaluation stockings that promise to improve the cost-effectiveness of stocking practices.

The stocking strategies listed on this page were taken from An Evaluation of Stocking Strategies in Wisconsin with an Analysis of Projected Stocking Needs written by the Bureau of Fisheries Management April 1999.

For more information on Wisconsin fish hatcheries please visit the DNR State Hatchery page. Or visit the Bureau of Fisheries Management fish stocking page.

Science Services is currently engaged in the following projects relating to the propagation and stocking of Wisconsin´s freshwater fish:

• Conservation Genetics of Wisconsin Fishes
• Natural Muskellunge in Wisconsin: Factors Affecting Self-sustaining Populations