Cable Area Chamber of Commerce: Governor Walker proposes major initiative to improve walleye populations in Wisconsin lakes

May 22, 2013
Cable,Wisconsin

For Immediate Release…..

After challenging the Department of Natural Resources to develop a plan to dramatically increase the number of walleyes in Wisconsin lakes to the benefit of all users, Governor Scott Walker announced on Wednesday an aggressive program to dramatically increase the most sought after game fish in the state. The DNR has put together a plan to stock more and larger walleyes in those lakes across the state that can support additional walleye populations.

The Legislature has responded to Governor Walkers request and made available significant additional funding for use by state, tribal and private fish hatcheries to produce additional walleyes. Funding of $8.2 million for infrastructure improvements and $1.3 million each year for annual operating costs will be provided to expand production at DNR state fish hatcheries. Production should increase from 60,000-120,000 large walleye fingerlings to well over 500,000 by 2016. One time funding of $2 million is also being provided for a competitive grant program for municipal, tribal and private aquaculture facilities to improve their infrastructure and enhance the capabilities to stock additional large fingerling walleyes in Wisconsin waters. Also, $500,000 is being provided annually to purchase large fingerling walleye for stocking in Wisconsin’s waters from private fish farms. Several states, including Indiana and Minnesota have had success improving their walleye fisheries with purchases of walleye fingerlings from private sources. The initiative being developed plans to increase the stocking of large fingerling walleye by an estimated 500,000 to 850,000 fish, depending on grant proposals and contract bids that come forward.

Initial reaction from across the state is very positive. Amanda Staudemeyer, owner of the Four Seasons Resort on Lake Namakagon stated, ‘More walleyes in our lake will certainly have a positive impact. Ultimately, more fish to catch will encourage fishing enthusiasts to travel within Wisconsin for their fishing vacations, as opposed to traveling to other states or Canada’.

James Bolen, Executive Director of the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce concurs. ‘For many years now we have watched the walleye populations decrease and seen the impact that has had on our businesses, not just resorts but visitors who come here to fish also shop, dine and look for other entertainment too. Everyone has been impacted. Too see such an aggressive proposal to address this issue shows that the Governor, the DNR and the Legislature understand the impact decreasing populations are having on our economy and they want to reverse this trend and do so as quickly and as responsibly as possible. Fishing in Wisconsin currently supports over 30,000 jobs but that number could increase under this plan. It is a welcomed proposal’, he concluded.

Nearly 1.4 million licensed anglers in Wisconsin deliver a total estimated economic impact of $2.7 billion annually and generates approximately $196 million in state and local tax revenue.

Cable Area Chamber of Commerce
www.cable4fun.com ~ info@cable4fun.com
800.533.7454 or 715.798.3833