A recent cleanup effort along a stretch of the Menominee River is expected to boost fish and environmental health in the area as the river recovers.

The Menominee River forms the boundary between the northeast corner of Wisconsin and the southern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with headwaters originating in both states and eventually emptying into Green Bay.

Federal Environmental Protection Agency and state specialists from Michigan and Wisconsin helped Lower Menominee River communities clean up the river by removing contaminants left by historic industry use, including manufactured gas, ship-building, paper and wastewater treatment companies. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds supported the cleanup.

“Restoration of sites like these makes an incredible difference for Great Lakes communities and natural habitat, as well as the outdoor recreation opportunities they support,” said Office of the Great Lakes Director Jon Allan. “Together, we’re achieving the goal of swimmable, fishable, drinkable waters that everyone can enjoy.” Read more

Looking to spend a few hours or a whole day fishing this summer? Michigan’s waters offer plenty of opportunities to catch a variety of fish, and summer is an ideal time to try. Charter fishing businesses throughout the state offer a great way to explore Michigan’s world-class fisheries.

Licensed charter captains provide the boats and all the equipment, plus the knowledge needed for a fun half-day or day on the water. Charter businesses in Michigan help children and adults have memorable fishing experiences – whether it’s reeling in a fish for the first time or trying your hand at catching a new species.

“Last year 72,000 anglers in Michigan participated in more than 18,000 charter fishing trips on the Great Lakes and other navigable waters,” said Donna Wesander, a DNR fisheries technician who tracks charter fishing data. “These anglers caught nearly 300,000 fish that included a variety of salmon and trout, walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and muskie.” Read more

A patchy bloom of the Florida red tide organism,Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida.

In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to high concentrations in 24 samples collected from or offshore of Sarasota County, low to high concentrations in seven samples collected from or offshore of Charlotte County, background to high concentrations in 32 samples collected from or offshore of Lee County, and background to medium concentrations in 10 samples collected from or offshore of Collier County.

Additional samples collected throughout Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis.

Over the past week, fish kills were reported in Southwest Florida in Sarasota County (Casey Key, Manasota Beach, Nokomis Beach, Venice Beach, Venice North Jetty), in Charlotte County (Boca Grande Beach, Don Pedro State Park, Gasparilla Pass, Lemon Bay, Little Gasparilla Beach, Punta Gorda Beach, Red Fish Cove), in and offshore of Lee County (Boca Grande Pass, Gasparilla Island, Captiva Beach, San Carlos Bay, Sanibel Island), and in Collier County (South Marco Beach).

Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Sarasota County (6/29 and 7/3 at Lido Key; 6/28-7/1 and 7/3-7/6 at Manasota Beach; 6/29-7/4 and 7/6 at Nokomis; 6/29-7/1 and 7/3-7/5 at Venice Beach; 6/29-7/4 and 7/6 at Venice North Jetty), and Lee County (6/28-6/29 at Captiva; 6/28-6/29 and 7/2 at Gasparilla Island Range Lighthouse; 6/29-7/2 at Gasparilla Island State Park). Read more

Fishing for lake sturgeon is a rare and unique opportunity in Michigan. The month of July brings several season openers.

Detroit River

Fishing season: July 16 – March 15

Catch and release only. All lake sturgeon must be released immediately.

Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River

Fishing season: July 16 – March 15
Possession season: July 16 – Sept. 30

Fish must be between 42 and 50 inches. Lake sturgeon less than 42 inches and greater than 50 inches must be released immediately.

Otsego Lake (Otsego County)

Fishing/possession season: July 16 – March 15

Fish must be a minimum of 50 inches. Lake sturgeon less than 50 inches must be released immediately. Read more

On Wednesday, The European Commission formally approved 25 percent tariffs on a range of American products, including boats, in response to the Trump Administration’s Section 232 tariffs on all aluminum and steel imports. A 25 percent tariff will be applied to every boat destined for the EU.

The global trade war has intensified in the past few weeks and the recreational boating industry is being targeted on multiple fronts. To help the industry keep pace with this rapidly evolving situation, NMMA has released a frequent asked questions factsheet outlining and addressing these issues:https://www.nmma.org/assets/cabinets/Cabinet517/FAQ%20Sheet_Tariffs%20and%20Retaliation.pdf 

In addition, NMMA recently issued a Boating United alert, calling on all industry stakeholders to take action and tell President Trump to withdraw tariffs targeting boats. Read more

Visitors this summer to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on the south shore of Lake Superior, might see DNR staff surveying a number of waterbodies in the area. It’s all part of an effort to better understand what kind of fish make their home in these waters.

“Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors every year, and many of those folks have questions about fish locally,” said Cory Kovacs, DNR fisheries biologist out of the DNR’s Newberry office. “We started sampling in 2017, and that information is important in helping us inform the public about what’s here, as well as in making decisions about managing those fish populations.”

In 2017, staff sampled Chapel Creek, Hurricane River, Miner’s River, Rhody Creek, Towes Creek and Mosquito River. This year, they’ll head to Grand Sable Lake, Chapel Lake, Beaver Lake, Sevenmile Creek and Lowney Creek. Crews will use netting gear in lakes and electrofishing gear in streams. Visitors should use caution if encountering those crews on the water. Read more