Salmon Rearing pens
IFor the past several springs the Cheboygan Sportfishing Association has been taking care of some 65,000 young salmon fry. The Department of Natural Resources bring the young fish from their hatchery and deposit them into our rearing pens (3). The fish are then feed 3 times per day by members of the fishing club. Putting the fish into the pens has several advantages over just depositing them straight into the river. Spending this time int the river gives the fish a better chance to imprint the river. This will better the chance the fish will find the Cheboygan River when they mature and are looking for their spawning grounds. Perhaps the biggest benefit is in the survival rates for the fish. The young fish go through a smolting stage where they turn more silver and they really want to head for the big water ( Lake Huron). But all 65,000 don't reach this state at the exact same time. Our fish are examined by a DNR biologist and when they determine that a bunch are ready to go, the doors to the pens are opened and any fish that wants to head for bigger water can go. Some leave right then, but most wait until dark to leave.
The link below is to some video I shot today as I was feeding the fish.
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