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Genoa National Fish Hatchery Meets Walleye Fingerling Requests In Spite of Cold Snap
Midwest Region, June 14, 2005
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Each spring the personnel from the Genoa National Fish Hatchery begin broodstock netting operations for three weeks on the Mississippi River in order to collect and spawn adult walleye in support of fishery management programs. The eggs are collected and placed in incubating jars at the hatchery, then after 7-10 days the eggs hatch and millions of fry swim into a holding tank awaiting dispersal. Walleye fry and eggs are shipped throughout the United States, including Arkansas, New Mexico, Iowa, Okalahoma and Texas. Some of the fry remain on station are stocked in the hatchery ponds for further culture. In April and May of 2005, two rearing ponds were stocked with 150,000 walleye fry each. However, due to the weather the survivability of the individual ponds were noticeably different. The walleye averaged 1.7? after 46 days of growth, and were harvested June 9 and June 14 with a total number of 87,000 which were stocked into other ponds on the hatchery for advanced rearing as well as Iowa state waters and The LaCrosse's United States Geological Survey Lab to support scientific studies. The walleyes which remain on the hatchery will attain a size of six inches by October. These 6? walleye are requested to be stocked on federal and tribal lands, as well as national wildlife refuges in the Midwest. Due to the increased growth, the fish have a much higher chance of surviving once they are stocked. All fingerling walleye requests were met in 2005 despite having an unusual cold period in late April. Pond culture is much more variable than rearing fish in tanks, so often an excess of fish are stocked in case one pond might not meet expectations. There are many variables which the culturist tries to control, such as the water quality, predators, and weed control. Nevertheless, weather is out of our control and can make or break the outcome of the pond harvest. This year, the affects of pond temperature were apparent. Pond 10 was stocked earlier than pond 9 and had to endure cold frosty mornings with air temperatures of 20 degrees overnight. Water temperature below 50 degrees F is deadly for vulnerable walleye fry and this was most likely the reason for its poor survivability. Conversely, pond 9 was stocked only a week later and bypassed the early cold snap. The walleye harvest from pond 9 turned out to be one of the Genoa NFH's most successful ponds ever with a total production of 80,000 1.7? fish. Walleye are one of the many species of fish reared at the hatchery for enhancing and restoring current wild fish populations under cooperative management plans with federal and state agencies which benefits aquatic resources across the nation, as well as national wildlife refuges and tribal lands.

Contact Info: Midwest Region Public Affairs, 612-713-5313, charles_traxler@fws.gov



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