Coaster Brook trout from the Genoa National Fish Hatchery.-permission from Jim Solberg (friend of the genoa fish hatchery)

Coaster Brook trout from the Genoa National Fish Hatchery.-permission from Jim Solberg (friend of the genoa fish hatchery)

The Genoa National Fish Hatchery successfully reared another lot of future coaster brook trout broodstock for the Iron River National Fish Hatchery in order to supplement their brood stock program. Six hundred Tobin Harbor strain “brookies” were originally received as eggs from the Iron River NFH in December of 2006. The lot was reared for approximately 11 months and averaged six inches in length.

Genoa is able to achieve better growth rates by rearing the yearling fish on its constant groundwater temperature of 53º F throughout the winter and summer. The increased growth matures the young trout to spawning age almost a year sooner.  Eventually, brook trout eggs will be collected from the broodstock which will be hatched and reared for restocking into areas of the Great Lakes.

The coaster brook trout is a threatened strain of brook trout which is endemic to the Isle Royale region of Lake Superior. Though similar to the inland strains, coasters become larger; attaining weights of 4-10 lbs. Overfishing, pollution, and sea lampreys have all contributed to the diminishing number of coaster brook trout in the Great Lakes. The Genoa National Fish Hatchery is cooperating with the Iron River National Fish Hatchery, the Ashland Fisheries Resource Office, and the states of Wisconsin and Michigan to restore the coaster brook trout to its native range on the northern shore of Lake Superior.