The State of Michigan currently has a total of six state fish hatcheries located in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Following is a list of these six hatcheries and the year they were established.

≤ Marquette State Fish Hatchery was established in 1920.

≤ Thompson State Fish Hatchery in Manistique was established in 1922.

≤ Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan was established in 1927.

≤ Oden State Fish Hatchery in Alanson was established in 1921.

≤ Harrietta State Fish Hatchery was established in 1901.

≤ Platte River State Fish Hatchery in Beulah was established in 1928.

The loss of many fish populations by 1870 throughout North America lead to the establishment of many fisheries agencies, including the Michigan Fish Commission in 1873, the predecessor to today’s DNR Fisheries Division. Replenishing lost and establishing new fish populations using fish production was one of their primary functions.

The use of hatchery fish has evolved over time. During the period from 1873 to 1929, fish hatcheries focused on fish species primarily caught to be used for food. At this time, about 92 percent of the fish produced were lake whitefish. Immigrants to Michigan wanted fish they were used to eating in their native lands from where they came. This brought to our Michigan waters the carp, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, as well as large mouth and small mouth bass and a host of other species as well. To expand the availability of this food supply, both lake whitefish and lake herring were stocked across Michigan to provide these new food fish species in waters they did not exist before.

Currently approximately 40 percent of all recreational fishing in Michigan depends on stocked fish, including about 70 percent of the Great Lakes trout and salmon. Therefore, it is very important to continue to develop and maintain these fish hatchery facilities that can readily produce the fish needed for fishery management.

This is handled by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Fisheries Division.

Certainly, fishing in Michigan has a very significant economic impact on our state, both from commercial fishing enterprises as well as sport fishing for the fun and enjoyment of this great sport. Of course fishing can be enjoyed by individuals, friends and family, and by participating in the many fishing contests held throughout our great Sate of Michigan.

The Marquette State Fish Hatchery was originally opened in 1920 and was completely renovated in 1994. It is the primary fish hatchery facility for brook and lake trout that are used in both inland and Great Lakes waters. The facility offers educational material to provide information to the public on the importance of the fish in our Great Lakes, brook and lake trout rehabilitation, fisheries research, and how a fish hatchery operates.

The Marquette State of Michigan fish hatchery address is 488 Cherry Creek Road. The hatchery is located on Cherry Creek Road just about 3 miles south of the intersection where highway M-28 joins US-41. The hatchery is open to the public at no charge weekdays from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and weekends from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. For further information as to the hatchery location, or to schedule group tours, please contact the hatchery at (906) 249-1611.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books. He has his practice at the Digestive Health Clinic at U.P. Health System-Marquette. Requests for health topics for this column are encouraged. Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.