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Genoa Hatchery Staff Thrilled with Walleye Pond Harvests
Midwest Region, July 25, 2004
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Every 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 and sauger. This is done to enhance and restore current wild fish populations under cooperative management plans with federal and state agencies. The eggs are collected and placed in incubating jars at the hatchery. After 7-10 days the eggs hatch and millions of fry swim into a holding tank awaiting dispersal. In 2004 alone, 5 million fry were stocked throughout the United States, including Arkansas, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. The Genoa National Fish Hatchery also rears fingerling walleye in its outdoor rearing ponds through the spring and summer. The advanced growth fingerlings have a higher chance of survivability post stocking. Three rearing ponds were stocked in May with 375,000 walleye fry. The walleye averaged 1.5 inches after 44 days of growth, and were harvested June 21 with a total number of 215,000, and a 57 percent survival rate, which is an increase of 22 percent from the previous year. Approximately 175,000 were stocked into Iowa and Wisconsin waters, including 25,000 fingerlings which were OTC marked. An OTC mark is accomplished by immersing the fish in an oxytetracycline bath for a period of six hours at 500ppm. The OTC stains the otilith bone of the fish which can then be used for identification by fish management biologists. The discernment between hatchery fish and wild fish provides data to the overall success of the stocking program. In addition, 25,000 walleye were also stocked into the hatchery's 11 acre pond in order to grow to a size of six inches by October. These 6 inch walleye are requested to be stocked on Tribal lands in Wisconsin and Minnesota as well as the Desoto National Wildlife Refuge. Due to the increased growth, the fish have a much higher chance of surviving. Walleye are one of the many species of fish reared at the hatchery 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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