Michigan’s Great Lakes fishery is under direct threat — and the window to stop it is closing fast.
House Bills 5801 and 5802 are expected to receive a hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism on May 20th. If passed, these bills would authorize commercial netting of walleye, lake trout, and yellow perch from Lakes Michigan and Huron.
These are the fish Michigan anglers spent generations rebuilding.
These are the fisheries your license dollars restored after commercial overfishing helped devastate them decades ago.
And now, those same fisheries are being put back on the table.
We need every angler, conservationist, charter captain, bait shop owner, and Great Lakes supporter to act immediately.
YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION ITEMS
CALL or EMAIL your State Representative and State Senator today.
Find your legislators at: www.legislature.mi.gov
Tell them to OPPOSE BOTH HB 5801 and HB 5802.
Use the talking points and template below to send your message.
Legislators count contacts. A flood of calls and emails this week can absolutely influence this vote.
KEY TALKING POINTS
These Fish Were Nearly Destroyed Once Before
Lake trout populations in Lakes Michigan and Huron were commercially fished to near extinction in the mid-1900s. Anglers spent decades funding hatcheries and restoration through license fees to bring them back.
Nets Don’t Discriminate
Commercial nets harvest everything at the targeted size regardless of species. This is the same gear that contributed to the collapse of these fisheries decades ago.
Sport Fishing is a Major Economic Driver
Michigan’s sport fishing industry generates approximately $2.3 billion annually compared to roughly $5.4 million from commercial fishing. These bills put a major economic engine at risk for minimal gain.
Anglers Paid to Rebuild These Fisheries
Through license fees and excise taxes, Michigan anglers funded the recovery of these fish populations. Commercial netting interests did not.
Both Bills Must Be Stopped
HB 5801 and HB 5802 are tie-barred legislation. If one passes, both move forward. Legislators must vote NO on BOTH bills.
TEMPLATE EMAIL
Subject: Please Vote NO on HB 5801 and HB 5802
Dear Representative / Senator [Last Name],
I am a constituent and a Michigan angler asking you to vote NO on House Bills 5801 and 5802.
These bills would authorize commercial netting of walleye, lake trout, and yellow perch from Lakes Michigan and Huron — fish populations that were nearly destroyed in the last century and rebuilt through decades of investment by Michigan anglers.
I am deeply concerned because:
• Commercial nets contributed to the collapse of these fisheries before.
• Michigan’s sport fishing economy generates billions annually and supports communities across the state.
• Anglers funded the restoration of these fisheries through license fees and excise taxes.
[OPTIONAL: Add a personal sentence about what fishing means to you or your family.]
Please protect Michigan’s Great Lakes fishery and vote NO on HB 5801 and HB 5802.
Thank you for your time and service.
Sincerely, [Your Name]
Please forward this alert to fellow anglers, conservationists, clubs, and anyone who cares about the future of Michigan’s Great Lakes fisheries.
This may be our last opportunity to stop these bills before committee action begins.
