On September 6-7, Service staff, partners and guests traveled to Traverse City, Michigan, to attend the dedication of the M/V Spencer F. Baird, the newest stocking and assessment vessel of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

A Christening and Commissioning Ceremony; partners luncheon; open house; and related tours were part of the celebration.  Organizers also hosted an indoor tour of exhibits and was staffed by Service personnel to answer any questions from invited guests.

Mission 1 Lake trout rehabilitation:

The Baird’s primary mission is to transport, fingerling and yearling lake trout raised at Service hatcheries in Wisconsin and Michigan to restore lake trout populations in Lakes Huron and Michigan. The Service produces almost 4 million lake trout each year. The Service transports 95 percent of these fish to important offshore sites for release. Each year, the Baird will travel approximately 3,000 miles from April to July.

Mission 2 Fish stocking assessments:

The vessel’s second mission is to carry out assessments to measure the performance of stocked lake trout. It also will be used to monitor and assess other fish populations in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior. Through the use bottom sonar, trawls, mid-water trawls and gill nets, the Baird will also sample prey and predator fishes to gather important biological information on relative abundance, age, size and population.

This information will serve the needs of the lake trout rehabilitation program partners, management of treaty fisheries, and agencies on the Upper Great Lakes.