Doug Aloisi, Hatchery Manager and the 2006 Fisheries Project Leader of the Year. - FWS photo

Doug Aloisi, Genoa National Fish Hatchery Manager, was awarded Fisheries Project Leader of the Year for 2006 in Washington D.C. on March 1.

The award, presented annually to project leaders from across the country, is given to persons who have shown leadership in conservation, recovery, and restoration of the nation’s aquatic fauna and habitats.

Aloisi was selected based on his ongoing contributions to recovery and restoration efforts for imperiled native mussels and lake sturgeon in the Upper Midwest, as well as his strong outreach efforts on behalf of the programs he manages at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery.

Under Aloisi’s leadership the Endangered Mussel program has grown into a national leader in mussel propagation with over 5.5 million mussels, of multiple age classes, having been stocked into waters of the Upper Midwest. Additionally, the stations Lake Sturgeon production program has grown from its fledgling state into the largest production program in the nation for this species. 

With Aloisi’s guidance the hatchery has continued to expand beyond traditional hatchery programs to make significant contributions to restoration and recovery efforts for non-traditional aquatic species. For more information on this story or any of the other programs supported by Genoa NFH please contact the hatchery at 608-689-2605 or e-mail roger_gordon@fws.gov.