LAKE HERRING (Coregonus artedi)

INTENSIVE CULTURE MANUAL

PREPARED BY:

GREGORY J. FISCHER KENDALL L. HOLMES EMMA M. WIERMAA

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT NORTHERN AQUACULTURE DEMONSTRATION FACILITY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS WHY RAISE LAKE HERRING? 4 IMPORTANT PROTOCOLS FOR STOCKING SUCCESS 5 HOW TO USE THE LAKE HERRING CULTURE MANUAL 6 BASIC WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS FOR COLD WATER SPECIES 7 GENERAL WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS 8 EGG COLLECTION 10

EGG FERTILIZATION AND DISINFECTION 11 EGG INCUBATION 13 LARVAL REARING SYSTEM 16 LARVAL DIETS & FEED TRAINING 18 FEED TRANSITIONING 21 FINGERLING REARING 22 MARKING STRATEGIES 25

o FIN CLIPPING o CWT

GROW-OUT SYSTEMS 27 WATER RECYCLE SYSTEM EXAMPLE 30 FURTHER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES 32 EQUIPMENT AND FEED PROVIDERS 33 AWKNOWLEDGEMENTS 38 REFERENCES & RESOURCES 39

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WHY RAISE LAKE HERRING? Historically, lake herring or cisco (Coregonus artedi) was the most prolific prey fish in the Great Lakes basin (Smith 1995) and arguably supported the most prolific commercial freshwater fishery in North America. The cisco was such a vital link in both the human and lake trout food webs that their collapse altered predator-prey dynamics and commercial fisheries on the Great Lakes (Dryer and Beil 1964; Dryer et al. 1965; Kutchenberg et al. 1978; Gearhart 1987; Brown et al. 1999a,b). Cisco populations have rebounded in Lake Superior (Bronte et al. 2003) and are increasing in Lake Huron (Mohr and Ebener 2005). However, they do remain severely restricted in the remaining Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has established that lake herring is a “species of interest” to state and federal agencies and that rehabilitation of the historical lake herring populations through augmentation programs in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie are needed. This manual provides critical information and assist in the propagation and handling of cisco for conservation restoration projects. Surveys done in 2008-2009 were sent to three groups of potential lake herring businesses and agencies: 1) bait dealers, 2) fish processing, and 3) fish stocking programs. General bait dealer responses included enthusiasm for the potential availability of commercially produced lake herring. Samples of cultured lake herring were shown and all bait dealers rated them in the highest quality. The greatest market potential appears to be in winter months and at a size of 7-9 inch fish. Bait dealers indicated they could use about 10,000 lbs of lake herring that would bring in about $5,000 to $15,000 in additional income. Fish processors preferred adult lake herring (5-6 years old) with half of the processors also selling roe. Also, current wild harvest must target adult lake herring to collect roe, with the adults averaging 5-6 years in age. Most fish processors were not interested in commercially-raised lake herring since wild harvested lake herring from Lake Superior are readily available (Note: with the detection of VHS in Lake Superior lake herring, the status & availability of wild fish may change rapidly). All fish stocking programs contacted believed there is a need for raising lake herring for rehabilitation stocking. Stocking programs prefer small lake herring (0-1 year old) with each agency indicating they would need 100,000 to millions of fish each year. Since rehabilitation stocking is based on the concept that after a few years the fish will have established themselves in the “wild” and would naturally reproduce, we asked each program how long they would need commercially-raised lake herring. The need ranged from 4 – 10 years.

Fig. 1. One year old intensively reared lake herring.

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IMPORTANT PROTOCOLS FOR STOCKING SUCCESS

Stocking success is strongly correlated with fish body size at the time of release (Hoff and Newman 1995; Paragamian and Bowles 1995; Szendreyand Wahl 1995). Ludsin and DeVries 1997 found that fish stocked at early larval stages usually have poor survival rates due to physiological stress, starvation and predation by larger fish. Pangle and Sutton (2004) found that winter mortality was greater in small juvenile lake herring than in larger individuals which may influence recruitment in the Great Lakes. Fluchter (1980) found that small (<70mm total length) European whitefish C. lavaretus were not able to be transported or handled during stocking events. Increasing the size of lake herring for rehabilitation stocking of the Great Lakes which will involve marking, handling and transport is critical for this effort to succeed. To rear large amounts of lake herring (ie. millions) for successful reintroduction efforts, it is important to develop strict biosecure measures. It is also important to raise coregonid species on formulated feed intensively from egg stage thru fingerling stages and possibly to broodstock age. This manual applies recent aquaculture technologies such as improved larval diets, circular fiberglass tanks and recycle water systems. These advances relate to former issues in cisco propagation and rearing including egg collection, egg disinfection, larval diets, transportation, handling stress, marking, and rearing protocols for commercial production.

Fig. 2. Intensively reared larval lake herring

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HOW TO USE THE LAKE HERRING CULTURE MANUAL This manual was created by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility using best management practices for lake herring based on previous research and success at UWSP-NADF (see Fischer et.al, 2016). Funding for this project was received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. This manual was created as a template for lake herring production to be applied at a commercial level using the latest aquaculture technology advancements, feeds, designs, and practices. Throughout the manual, hatchery notes and examples are included in italics based on UWSP-NADF experiences with rearing lake herring. The notes and manual should be used as a guideline. Each facility will need to create individual best management practices specific to their hatchery or facility to successfully raise lake herring.

Fig. 3. Feeding of fingerling lake herring at UWSP-NADF.

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BASIC WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS FOR COLD WATER SPECIES It is important to remember and provide basic water quality parameters for cold water species, like the lake herring. These parameters are based on successful rearing of lake herring at UWSP-NADF and should be referred to throughout the rearing period for all live stages. These values listed below are for flow through systems. If fish are raised in water recycle systems, some of these values may differ. Different parameters are listed in the Grow Out section of this manual for water recycle systems. Water Quality Parameters: Flow Through Water Temperature: Egg Incubation: 6-8°C Fry through Grow out: 10-15°C Oxygen: >6.0mg/L TDGP: <101% CO2: <25mg/L pH: 6.5-8.0 Alkalinity*: 80-400 mg/L TSS: <2 mg/L Total Ammonia: <1.0mg/L Unionized Ammonia: <0.0125mg/L Nitrite: <0.3mg/L Nitrate: <100mg/L Salinity*: ≤4 ppt

*Values may differ for water recycle systems.

Fig. 4. Intensively reared fingerling lake herring at UWSP-NADF

Find Water Quality

Parameters for Recycle Systems on

Page 29…

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GENERAL WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS General water quality parameters should be understood with raising any species in aquaculture. Table 1 provides a basic list to use as an additional resource and guideline to create parameters specific to the species raised at an individual hatchery or facility.

Recommended Water Quality for Aquaculture. Source: Timmons, 2002; Piper, 1982; Meade, 1991;Lawson, 1995 Parameter Concentration (mg/L) Alkalinity (as CaCO³) 50-300 Aluminum <0.01 Ammonia (NH3-N unionized) <0.0125 salmonids Ammonia (TAN) <1.0 coolwater fish Ammonia (TAN) <3.0 warmwater fish Arsenic (As) <0.05 Barium (Ba) <5 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) <60 tolerant species (tilapia) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) <20 sensitive species (salmonids) Chlorine (Cl) <.003 Copper (Cu) >0.006 0.03 depending on Alkalinity Hardness Total CaCO3 >100 Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) <0.005 Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) <0.002 Iron (Fe) <0.15 Lead (Pb) <0.02 Magnesium (Mg) <15 Mercury (Hg) <0.02 Nitrogen (N2) <110% total gas pressure <103% nitrogen gas Nitrite (NO2) <1.0, 0.1 in soft water Nitrate (NO3) 0-400 or higher Dissolved Oxygen (O2) >5.0 warmwater and coolwater >7.0 salmonids Ozone (O3) <0.005 PCBs <0.002 pH 6.5-8.5 Phosphorous (P) 0.01-3.0 Salinity depends on species Silver (Ag) <0.003 Sodium(Na) <75 Sulfate (SO4) <50 Total Gas Pressure 105% species dependant Sulfur(S) <1.0 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) <400 site and species specific Total Suspended Solids (TSS) <80 site and species specific Uranium (U) <0.1 Zinc (Z) <0.005

Table 1. Basic water parameters for aquaculture.

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Fig. 5. Regular monitoring of basic water quality parameters.

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Gill net set up on fishing boat to obtain ripe lake herring for egg collection.

EGG COLLECTION

Collect ripe male and female gametes (eggs and milt) from adult spawning lake herring. Fish should be living or fresh when obtaining eggs. One potential option is to work with commercial fishermen to obtain ripe fish during spawning periods (Fig.6).

In December, UWSP-NADF collected eggs in coordination with commercial fisherman utilizing one night set of gill nets to capture live fish. Fish were collected utilizing a 1000ft bottom net with 3.0 inch mesh at 162 feet in Lake Superior (Fig. 7).

Fish Health Inspection and Biosecurity

Verify with appropriate agency or fish health personnel to determine correct hatchery protocols for collection of wild caught fish and gametes for transfer into facilities.

Fig. 6. Commercial fishing boat used for collection of gametes

Fig. 7. Gill net set up on fishing boat to obtain ripe lake herring for egg collection.

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EGG FERTILIZATION & DISINFECTION

STEPS:

1. For optimum fertilization success, dry spawning is recommended. Be careful that no water is present during the following process until step 5.

2. Completely dry ripe female cisco with towel.

3. Hand strip female into a dry container by applying gentle pressure to the abdominal area. Eggs should flow easily from the vent into the container. If eggs are clumping or sticky do not collect.

4. Dry off several ripe males and hand strip milt into a container. Pour pooled milt over the eggs, making sure no water is present (Fig. 8).

5. Pour tempered fresh water over the eggs and milt to activate fertilization.

6. Use a small paint brush or soft feather to gently mix the eggs, milt and water together for several minutes.

7. Rinse and drain the eggs with tempered fresh water several times and set aside in container for about an hour to water harden, adding fresh water about every 10-15minutes.

Fig. 8. Left photo: Males and females are both dried with a towel and hand stripped into dry containers. Right photo: Milt is pooled by at least several males and poured onto eggs without water. Water can be added after all milt is poured onto eggs and ovarian fluid.

Why is Dry Important? Timing Counts! Water activates both milt and opens micropyle of the egg. Sperm are only active for about 10-15 seconds after exposed to water. If the sperm are not near an egg at this time, fertilization will not occur. Therefore, fertilization is

most successful if eggs and milt are kept dry until they are pooled together, then

water can be added.

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8. After fertilized eggs are water hardened, it is recommended that they are iodophor-disinfected at 100ppm for 15 minutes (Fig. 9).

9. After iodophor treatment, rinse eggs with fresh clean water several times to ensure iodophor is washed out. Eggs can now be shipped in water to hatchery or facility for incubation. Eggs should be transferred in a covered container with aeration and kept cool.

10. Eggs can now be quantified using volumetric displacement.

• For total volume, pour eggs into a strainer. Funnel strained eggs into a known volume of water in a graduated cylinder. The change in volume after eggs are added equals the total volume of eggs (Fig. 10).

• To determine egg numbers, take a small random sample of eggs. Fill a graduated cylinder (10ml) to a known volume of water. Add dry eggs a few at a time until 1ml of water is displaced. Pour out water and eggs from the graduated cylinder onto a petri dish and count the amount of eggs it took to displace 1ml. This number is how many eggs per ml. Take the eggs/ml and multiply by total ml of eggs. This will equal the total number of eggs you have.

Fig. 9. Eggs are disinfected with 100mg/L iodophor for 15 minutes.

Fig. 10. Total volume of eggs is being determined by displacement.

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EGG INCUBATION

• Place a known volume of eggs into egg incubation system. UWSP-NADF utilizes McDonald style bell jars with 1-3L of eggs per jar to achieve good egg rolling movement (Fig. 11).

• The incubation system must receive degassed and aerated good quality water. UWSP-NADF temperature recommendation is 6-8°C with an appropriate flow rate to roll eggs effectively. Flow rates are determined by amount of eggs per jar (Fig. 12).

• Keep dissolved oxygen levels above 6mg/L. UWSP-NADF averaged at 11.2 mg/L measured with YSI dissolved oxygen meter (Model 550).

Fig. 11. Pouring herring eggs into McDonald style bell jar for incubation.

Fig. 12. Bell jar incubation system at UWSP-NADF

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• Treat all eggs proactively with fungicide treatments. UWSP-NADF used formalin treatments of 1000ppm for15 min, similar treatment for other coldwater species. Formalin was applied as a drip treatment with a chicken waterer drip setup while in the bell jar incubation system (Fig. 13).

• Siphon out and remove dead eggs daily. Fungus or dead eggs will be white and more buoyant than live eggs (Fig. 14).

Fig. 13. Fungicide treatment is measured out wearing appropriate personal protection (left). A chicken waterer is used to drip treatment into incubation head tank (right).

Fig. 14. Dead eggs are siphoned out of bell jars daily.

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At UWSP-NADF, the development of a definite eye-spot began at 19 days post-fertilization, with eye-spots developed in all viable eggs by 24 days post-fertilization at 7.4°C (Fig. 15).

Based on previous work at UWSP-NADF, if eggs must undergo shipment, they can be successfully shipped when an eye-spot has developed.

At UWSP-NADF eggs incubated at 7.4°C were eyed up around 20 days post fertilization (268 TUs) and began hatching at 38 days post fertilization (509TUs). All eggs hatched within 7 days from start of hatch (509-603TUs).

Fig. 16. Egg development @ 7.4°C of lake herring starting at top left photo and developing clockwise to bottom left photo; 24 hours, 7 days, 20 days, and 40 days, post fertilization.

Fig. 15. Eyed lake herring eggs.

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LARVAL REARING SYSTEM

• After fry hatch in bell jar incubation systems, they can be transferred with water to an early rearing tank. Here they will be feed trained and raised until they reach 50mm or 0.9gm.

• Tanks must have a center screen small enough to hold in herring fry. At the larval stage, a 400micron sized screen is sufficient. Center screens should be cleaned with siphon and scrubbed off 1-2X daily to ensure they do not overflow from egg material and debris. Tanks also should be cleaned daily by removing dead fish, uneaten food and fecal material with a siphon.

• Record and keep track of daily mortalities, as well as note excess feed, fungus growth, any abnormalities in fish, behavior etc.

Fig. 17. Larval lake herring.

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UWSP-NADF recommends round, fiberglass insert tanks for the early rearing stage with 24hr overhead lighting. These tanks are connected to the bell jar incubation system via piping. As the fry hatch they flow into the tanks with water via gravity through the piping. The tanks are flow-through and have a shallow insert atop a larger tank. The tanks are supplied with heated, aerated, well water and have a 400micron center box screen to increase surface area for better water outflow. Aeration tubing runs along the bottom of the box screen. The air bubbles help keep the screen free of debris to limit clogging (Fig. 18). Larval Tank Parameters: • 400micron center screen • Temperature: 10-13ºC • Dissolved oxygen levels: >9.0mg/L • Total dissolved gas pressure: <101% • pH: 7-8 • Partial overhead tank covers

recommended

Fig. 18. Photos show larval rearing insert tanks with overhead lighting and a 400micron center box screen. Aeration tubing runs around bottom of the box screen to help keep screen free of debris.

Fig. 19. Larval lake herring reared in a round fiberglass tank

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LARVAL DIETS & FEED TRAINING Based on a recent larval diet study (Fischer et.al, 2016) conducted at UWSP-NADF, of six different commercially available larval feeds utilized, O.Range and Gemma Wean showed the best growth for lake herring.

1) O. Range larval diet (200-300 um) (Inve Aquaculture, Inc., Ogden, Utah) 2) Gemma Wean 0.1 larval diet (100-250um) (Bio-Oregon, Maine, USA)

Feed Inve O. Range

Gemma Wean 0.1

Size (um) 200-300 100-250 Protein (%) 56% 59%

Fat (%) 13% 14% Moisture (%) 7% NA

Table 2. Name, size and nutritional components of recommended larval feeds.

Fig. 20. Commercial feed being measured for larval lake herring.

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• “Button-Up” Stage

Lake herring should be examined daily for “button-up” stage, or when yolk sac becomes fully absorbed. UWSP-NADF found this will happen around 8 days post hatch at 10.5°C. Even before “button-up” is observed, start a light introductory feeding at about 6 days post hatch and increase feed daily to full ration at 10 days post hatch, while monitoring leftover feed and adjusting accordingly.

Fig. 21. Feed acceptance of larval lake herring at UWSP-NADF

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• Feeding Larval Lake Herring

Feed larval herring often throughout the day by hand, supplemented with a belt feeder. The majority, or 75% of feed ration is fed throughout day and 25% of feed ration fed during night with a belt feeder. For best growth, 24 hour overhead lighting is recommended (Fig. 22). A small amount of leftover feed should be seen, but too much will cause gill infections and fungus issues. Larval herring (< 50mm) should be fed around 20-25% total body weight over the course of 24hrs. Feeding should be adjusted accordingly based on observation.

UWSP-NADF used Inve O.range larval

diets at 20-25% Total Body Weight (TBW) until fry are 50-60 days post hatch (DPH) or around 50mm in length.

Fig. 22. Larval lake herring are fed by hand and also with a belt feeder with 24 hour overhead lighting.

Fig. 23. Larval lake herring feeding at UWSP-NADF.

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FEED TRANSITIONING

• When fry mouth gape and fry size is large enough, begin transition to a commercial trout or

salmon starter diet. When fish are ≥50mm and are on a 1mm size feed, feed ratios should be transitioned to 3-5%TBW. Continue to transition down to 1-2%TBW for extended fingerlings (≥100mm) through grow-out.

At UWSP-NADF, herring were transitioned onto Bio-Oregon® BioVita Starter #0, #1, #2. It is recommended to take 7-10days to transition to next feed size. Therefore, transitioning from #0 to #1 to #2 should take around 1 month.

Feed Ratios for Transitioning from Current feed (C) to next larger feed (L) size

steps: When feeding: 100%C -Ready for transition Feed: 75%C and 25%L for 2-3 days Then: 50%C and 50%L for 2-3 days Next: 25%C and 75%L for 2-3 days Now: 100% L- Feed until ready for next transition, then repeat steps

Note: Feed sizes and transitions are determined by the mouth gape, size of the fish and feed acceptance. Time to transition fish should be determined by specific hatchery based on their conditions.

Fig. 24. Lake herring fingerlings should be fed 3-5%TBW when they are between 50-100mm in length.

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FINGERLING REARING

• Transfer and grade fingerlings to larger tanks when 50-60mm in length, or 1.0gm in weight. This is when fish are showing scales and can undergo handling stress without high morality.

• UWSP-NADF utilizes 1/16th – 1/8th inch holes in bottom screens (based on fish size) in round fiberglass tanks (Fig. 26 & Fig. 27). When fingerlings are ≥ 100mm, slotted bottom screens of the appropriate size are recommended.

Fig. 26. Fingerling lake herring in a round fiberglass tank with a bottom screen.

Fig. 25. Fingerling lake herring can be transferred successfully when they reach 50-60mm or 1.0gm.

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Fingerling Tank Parameters:

• Tanks: Flow-through or recirculating (UWSP-NADF recommends round fiberglass tanks) • Flow Rate: R value ≥ 2 • Temperature: 10-13°C ** • Feed ratio: 3-5% TBW • Keep densities <12kg/m3*** • Remove and record mortalities daily • Partial overhead tank covers recommended

Fig. 27. Fingerling lake herring in a round fiberglass tank with a bottom screen.

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** In a UWSP-NADF temperature study, lake herring raised in heated water (12.8°C) grew approximately twice as fast in length and >3 times as fast growth in weight in the same period compared to lake herring raised in ambient temperature (7.7°C). Survival was >95% for both groups (Fischer et.al, 2016). ***The best survival and growth rates observed at UWSP-NADF were at densities <12kg/m³ (Fig. 28). Mortality increased and growth coefficient decreased at higher densities > 12.0 kg/m³. More research is needed to determine whether temperature effects survival of lake herring when raised in high densities. Therefore, when raising lake herring in temperatures >12°C, be cautious of higher density levels.

Fig. 28. Fingerling lake herring raised at densities <12kg/m³ showed the best survival and growth rates at UWSP-NADF.

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MARKING STRATEGIES

The injection of a coded wire tag (CWT) to the nape and the application of a fin clip to the pectoral or ventral fins when used separately and in concert are effective marking strategies for juvenile lake herring (Fischer et. al., 2016 & Larson et. al in press). FIN CLIPPING: Fin clipping of the ventral and pectoral fins is identifiable and practical, although post stocking analysis should be conducted to evaluate if those locations are detrimental to the survival of the fish. Future investigation should also evaluate if the adipose fin can be correctly identified after significant fish growth so as to mimic current Great Lakes salmonid marking protocols.

• Prior to fin clipping, immerse fish for two to three minutes in a 0.15 mg/L solution of tricaine

methanesulfonate (MS-222). • Fin clips can be ventral or pectoral. No significant differences in mortality among clip location

treatments of ventral or pectoral clips. • Fish exposed to MS-222 must be held in house for another 30 days before release.

CWT: The use of coded wire tags (CWTs) to identify hatchery reared fish is wide-spread throughout the Great Lakes basin (Jefferts et al. 1963). A coded-wire tag is a thin metal tag injected into fish tissue, generally containing a six-digit code (Solomon 2005). Upon capture, fish are sacrificed and tags excised. Unique tag codes can be used to identify individual year classes, from which, managers can evaluate efficacy of rearing and stocking methodology in long-term data sets. CWT’s are easily detectable, the process of injecting tags can be automated, and the low cost of utilization has been well documented (Hammer and Blankenship 2001; Bronte et al. 2012).

• Tag Equipment: MKIV tag Injector (Northwest Marine Technologies) to inject coded wire into juvenile lake herring. Implant coded wire tags in the nape using a 3.5 inch non-etched needle in combination with a needle support tube (Fig. 29). Detect tags with hand-held CWT detector wand (Northwest Marine Technologies).

• Prior to injecting, sedate lake herring for two to three minutes in a 0.15 mg/L solution of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222). There is a 30 day recommended holding period on fish exposed to MS-222.

• CWT’s can be retained and identified effectively in the nape with lake herring at 120 mm. The current mass marking protocol for Great Lakes salmonids, in which the coded wire tag is injected into the snout, is not suitable for young of year lake herring.

• Lake herring can be marked with a coded wire tag when the requisite scale is between 600 and 800 animals per hour, per machine (Solomon 2005). Future investigation is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the nape as a primary tagging location when the scale is increased by more than an order of magnitude.

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Fig. 29. Top photo: Side View – Injection of a CWT into the nape. Bottom photo: Top view – Injection of a CWT into the nape.

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GROW-OUT SYSTEMS

With very little water usage and the ability to increase the water temperature at lower cost, water recirculating or recycle systems may be effective in rearing lake herring for commercial production. Lake herring were successfully reared at UWSP-NADF in a water recycle system for grow out until they reached 255 mm and 178 gm (Fig. 30 & Fig. 31). Some fish at this size had matured and began egg production.

Fig. 31. 20 month old lake herring reared in water recycle system at UWSP-NADF.

Fig. 30. Water recycle system at UWSP-NADF.

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0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

5 119 153 209 263 313 353 373 391 403 421 510 538 610

mill

imet

ers

Days Post Hatch

Length

flow through length(mm)

RAS length (mm)

2013 cold length (mm)

2013 warm length(mm)

Fig. 32. Lake herring reared in alternative systems such as water recycle systems showed increased growth in various years UWSP-NADF. This graph and data is for informational purposes only.

Fig. 33. Growth comparison between lake herring raised in cold or flow through water (7-9°C) compared to lake herring raised in warm (15-17°C) water recycle systems at UWSP-NADF.

2008 7-8°C Flowthrough 2008 15-17C RAS 2013 7-8C Flowthrough 2013 12-13C Flowthrough

Lake Herring Length over Time in Alternate Systems

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Partial or Full Recycle Water Systems Parameters:

• Tanks: Round, fiberglass with dual drains (Cornell style) • Partial overhead tank covers recommended • Flow Rate: R value ≥ 2 • Keep fish densities in tank <15kg/m3* • Feed ratio: 1-3% TBW*** • Water Temperature: 15-17°C** • Oxygen: >8.0mg/L • TDGP: <101% • CO2: <20mg/L • pH: 6.5-8.0 • Alkalinity: ≥130 mg/L • TSS: <2 mg/L • Total Ammonia: <1.0mg/L • Unionized Ammonia: <0.0125mg/L • Nitrite: <0.3mg/L • Nitrate: <100mg/L • Salinity: 2-4 ppt • Remove and record mortalities daily

*For optimum growth and fin condition. ** Increased fish mortality was noted in recycle systems with water temperatures above 17°C at UWSP-NADF. ***Feed rate needs to be adjusted based on water temperature and fish observations

Fig. 34. Fingerling lake herring raised in water recycle systems at UWSP-NADF

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WATER RECYCLE SYSTEM EXAMPLE The system information and summary is an example of the components and operation of a water recycle system that can be successfully utilized for rearing lake herring if the correct water quality parameters are maintained. UWSP-NADF Example System Operation Summary (Fig. 35 & Fig. 36) Water exiting the culture tank’s sidewall and bottom drains is combined and treated through a microscreen drum filter, then pumped from a sump into a fluidized sand biofilter. Water flows by gravity from the biofilter into the aeration/stripping column where carbon dioxide is stripped. Water exiting the stripping column flows by gravity through a LHO, where pure oxygen supplementation takes place, before water is pumped back to the culture tanks from the sump tank. Excess water overflows the system at the pump sump. A CO2 stripping fan in the aeration/stripping column, used to lower CO2 levels in the system, is adjusted as needed to maintain CO2 concentrations below 25.0 mg/L. When fish densities are near maximum biomass, the CO2 stripping fan is on continuously. All water is passed thru ultraviolet sterilization and a side loop of water is passed thru the heat exchanger to allow for temperature control of system water.

Fig. 35. A water recycle system at UWSP-NADF. The system above consists of six (6) 5.7 m³ “Cornell-type” culture tanks; drum filter; 8.0 m³ sump; biofilter pump station; sand cyclonic biofilter; carbon dioxide stripping column w/fan and w/LHO; distribution pump station; overhead distribution pvc piping, flowmeter, aqualogic heat exchanger and Pentair ultra violet treatment unit (not shown). The CAD drafting was provided by Marine Biotech Inc., MA.

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Fig. 36. Water recycle system example at UWSP-NADF

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FURTHER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

• Although the best survival and growth rates observed at UWSP-NADF were at densities <12kg/m³, these fish were reared at 7.7°C. UWSP-NADF observed in a different study that lake herring raised at this low temperature (7.7°C) had >3 times slower growth in terms of both length and weight than when fish were raised at warmer temperatures (12.8°C). Therefore, further research must be done to determine whether temperature effects survival of lake herring when raised at preferred densities.

• Additional work needs to be focused on exploring performance, survival, and long term development at increased temperatures in alternative rearing systems such as water recycle systems. Research should also include how these alternative rearing systems relate to water management and cost.

• Deformities were observed in intensively reared lake herring including blunt snouts (Fig.

37) when compared to the elongated snout of wild lake herring (Fig. 38). Further research must be done to determine if deformities are due to nutritional deficiency in feed, rearing techniques, or other causes.

• Transport and handling effects on survival needs to be further explored at various sizes and ages for lake herring.

• Continued work on coregonid fish health, specifically iodophor treatment success on eggs

from VHS positive wild broodstock.

Fig. 38. Cisco, Coregonus artedi, lake herring, tullibee. Photograph from MN DNR.

Fig. 37. Blunt snout observed in intensively reared lake herring at UWSP-NADF.

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EQUIPMENT AND FEED PROVIDERS FOR ALL LIFE STAGES This section of the manual provides a list of various supplies, equipment and commercial feeds recommended by UWSP NADF. BIOSECURITY/MONITORING

Biosecurity/Disinfectant- Western Chemical Inc. (360) 384-5898. www.wchemical.com

• Virkon Aquatic. Item # VIRK-D • Ovadine (PVP Iodine). Item# OVAD-M-GA • Parasite-S (Formalin Egg Treatment- See Manual) Item# PARA-D-GA • Disinfecting Foot Mats

pH Monitoring- Pentair Aquatic Ecosystems. http://pentairaes.com/

• PinPoint pH Meter. Item: PH370 • Replacement pH Probe. Item: PH370R • Brine Shrimp Net (Soft white net) 4”x3”. Item: BSN1 • Aquarium Net (Soft white net) 6”x8”. Item: AN8

Oxygen and Temperature Monitoring- YSI Inc/Xylem Inc. www.ysi.com

• Pro20 Dissolved Oxygen Instrument: https://www.ysi.com/pro20 Contact: Darrin Honious: dhonious@ysi.com

Water Quality Monitoring- HACH® www.hach.com

Options:

• CEL Complete Aquaculture Laboratory. Product # 251233 http://www.hach.com/cel-complete-aquaculture-laboratory/product?id=16602433206&callback=pf (comes with Colorimeter, pH meter and probe)

OR:

• DR3900 Spectrophotometer. Product # LPV440.99.00012 http://www.hach.com/dr3900-benchtop-vis-spectrophotometer-with-rfid-technology/product?id=7640439026&_bt=86434982950&_bk=_cat%3Aspectrophotometer%23inurl%3A%3F&_bm=b&_bn=g&gclid=CMPShpawxcsCFQ-oaQodaSkE3g

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INCUBATION/HATCHING STAGE

Plumbing/Piping Equipment- • Hayward Valves- R&B Aquatic Distribution www.rbaquatic.com • Local Hardware Store for other PVC, Connectors, Tools

Bell Jar Incubation- Midland Plastics, Inc. (262) 938-7000: www.midlandplastics.com

• McDonald Style Bell Jar Incubation- Rounded Bottom • Contact: hatchingjar@midlandplastics.com • Sharon Krukar: SKrukar@midlandplastics.com

Bell Jar Fry Collection Tanks (Hatching Stage) – Gemini Fiberglass Products, Inc. (303) 278-0033

• 4’ Tanks with Fry Insert (Bell Jar Fry Tanks). • C.F. Meyer. Contact: Bob LangKamp (303)378-0378

Fig. 39. Bell jar incubation system utilized for incubating and hatching lake herring eggs at UWSP NADF.

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EARLY REARING STAGE: LARVAL TO FINGERLING Early Rearing Tanks- Hydrocomposites, LLC www.hydrocomposites.com

• Larval Tanks, Dual Drain Recirculation Tanks • Contact Chris Mills: chris@hydrocomposites.com

24Hr MicroFeeders Omer Nelson Electric, Inc. (715) 682-4100 www.onelectric.com

• Timer: T101 Timer Switch. Stock # 078275000018 • See PPT on Do-it-Yourself Microfeeder: http://www.uwsp.edu/cols-

ap/nadf/Documents/Micro%20Feeder%20steps2.pdf Belt Feeders- Eagar, Inc.: www.eagarinc.com

• German Clockwork Belt Feeder: http://eagarinc.com/component/djcatalog2/item/676-feeders/19728

Sampling/Transferring Nets Pentair Aquatic Ecosystems. http://pentairaes.com/

• Brine Shrimp Net (Soft white net) 4”x3”. Item: BSN1 • Aquarium Net (Soft white net) 6”x8”. Item: AN8

Fish Measuring Board- Pentair Aquatic Ecosystems: www.pentairaes.com

• Fish Measuring Board. PART#FMB2: http://pentairaes.com/fish-measuring-board.html

Scale (Total Body Weight or Feed)- Eagar, Inc.: www.eagarinc.com

• Accu Weigh Digital Table Top Scale http://eagarinc.com/component/djcatalog2/item/19517

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RECIRCULATION OR WATER RECYCLE AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS (RAS)

FINGERLING TO GROWOUT STAGE

Recommended Consulting Firms-

• The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute: www.conservationfund.org/what-we-do/freshwater-institute Contact: Steve Summerfelt: s.summerfelt@freshwaterinstitute.org Brian Vinci: b.vinci@freshwaterinstitute.org

• Pentair Aquatic Eco-systems® pentairaes.com Contact: Ed Aneshansley: Ed.Aneshansley@Pentair.com

• Water Management Technologies, Inc. www.w-m-t.com Contact: Greg Beckman: greg.beckman@w-m-t.com Terry McCarthy: terry.mccarthy@w-m-t.com

RECOMMENDED FEEDS Larval Diet- Inve Aquaculture, Inc

o O. Range Larval Diet (200-300 µm) http://www.inveaquaculture.com/wpcproduct/o-range/

Contact: +1 (801) 956 0203 Skretting, Inc. www.skretting.com

o Gemma Wean 0.1 larval diet (100-250um)

Commercial Trout/Salmon Diet- Skretting, Inc. www.skretting.com

• Bio-Oregon®- Bio Vita Starter http://www.bio-oregon.com/Bio-Vita-Starter-P43.aspx Contact: Chris Shilale: Chris.Shilale@skretting.com

• Skretting, Inc. Contact: Chad Vanderlinden: chad.vanderlinden@skretting.com

Contact: Jackie Zimmerman: Jackie.Zimmerman@skretting.com

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Fig. 40. UWSP NADF Technicians sampling lake herring.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Funding was received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act

• USGS-UPPER MIDWEST ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CENTER Mark Gaikowski & Sue Schleis

• USFWS LA CROSSE FISH HEALTH LAB

Corey Puzach

• LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY BAND OF ODAWA INDIANS Doug Larson & Kevin Donner

• BAY FISHERIES

Captain Craig Hoopman

• UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT NORTHERN AQUACULTURE DEMONSTRATION FACILITY Aquaculture Technicians, Interns and Volunteers.

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REFERENCES & RESOURCES Afifi, A.A. and V. Clark. 1999.Computer-aided Multivariate Analysis. Chapman and Hall/CRC. Boca Raton, FL. American Sportfishing Association. 2008. Today's angler: A statistical profile of anglers, their targeted species and expenditures. American Sportfishing Association, Alexandria, VA. Bailey, R. M., and G. R. Smith. 1981. Origin and geography of fish fauna of the Laurentian Great Lakes basin. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 38:1539-1561. Barbiero R. P., M. Balcer, D. C. Rockwell, and M. L. Tuchman. 2009. Recent shift in the crustacean zooplankton Berst A. H., and G. R. Spangler. 1972. Lake Huron: effects of exploitation, introductions, and eutrophication on the salmonid community. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 29:877-887. Bronte, C. R., M. P. Ebener, D. R. Schreiner, D. S. De Vault, M. M. Petzold, D. A. Jensen, C. Richards, and S. J. Lozano. 2003a. Fish community changes in Lake Superior, 1970-2000. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 60:1552-1572. Brown, E. H., T. R. Busiahn, M. L. Jones, and R. L. Argyle. 1999a. Allocating Great Lakes forage bases in response to multiple demands. Pages 355-396 in W.W. Taylor and C. P. Ferreri, editors. Great Lakes fisheries policy and management: a binational perspective. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, Michigan. Brown, R. W., M. Ebener, T. Gorenflow. 1999b. Great Lakes commercial fisheries: historical overview and prognosis for the future. Pages 307-354 in W.W. Taylor and C. P. Ferreri, editors. Great Lakes fisheries policy and management: a binational perspective. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, Michigan. Bunnell D. B., B. M. Davis, D. M. Warner, M. A. Chriscinske, and E. F. Roseman. 2011. Planktivory in the changing Lake Huron zooplankton community: Bythotrephes consumption exceeds that of Mysis and fish. Freshwater Biol. 56:1281-1296. Christie, W. J. 1972. Lake Ontario: effects of exploitation, introductions, and eutrophication on the salmonid community. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 29:913-929. Christie, W. J. 1974. Changes in the fish species composition of the Great Lakes. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 31:827-854. Colby, P. J. and L.T. Brooke. 1973. Effects of temperature on embryonic development of lake herring (Coregonus artedii). Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Vol. 30, No. 6: 799-810. Community of Lake Huron. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 66:816-828. Connerton, M.J., and T.J. Stewart. A strategic plan for the re-establishment of native deepwater ciscoes in Lake Ontraio. Draft plan. Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Cook, R. D., and S. Weisburg. 1999. Applied Regression Including Computing and Graphics. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. Eckmann, R., M. Kugler, and C. Ruhle. 2007. Evaluating the success of large-scale whitefish stocking Lake Constance. Advances in Limnology 60: 361-368. EIFAC. 1994. Guideline of stocking coregonids. EIFAC Occasional Paper 31:1-18. Evans, M. E., G. Fahnenstiel, and D. Scavia. 2011. Incidental oligotrophication of North American Great Lakes. Environmental Science and Technology 45:3297-3303. Fischer, G. C. Hartleb, and K. Holmes. Evaluation of four commercially available diets for intensive production of larval and juvenile lake herring. In Prep. Fischer, G. J, M. Gaikowski,D. Larson, and C. Puzach. 2016. USFWS Restoration Act Lake Herring (Coregonus artedii) report. Fluchter, J. 1980. Review of the present knowledge of rearing whitefish (Coregonidae) larvae. Aquaculture 19: 191-208. Gorman, O. and D. Bunnell. 2011. Great Lakes prey fish populations: a cross-basin overview of the status and trends from bottom trawl surveys, 1978-2010. Report to the Great lakes Fishery Commission, Lake Committee Meetings, Ypsilanti, MI. Hartleb, C.F., G. Fischer, M. Symbal and K. Holmes. 2010. Evaluation of lake herring (Coregonus artedii) propagation on a commercial-scale for the aquaculture industries of Northern Wisconsin. Final report to the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection. Hartman, W. L. 1972. Lake Erie: effects of exploitation, environmental changes, and new species on the fishery resources. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 29:899-912.

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Heikinheimo, O. 2000. Management of Coregonid Fisheries: Multiform and Multispecies Problems. Acadamic Dissertation. University of Helsinki, and Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute. Hooper, G. W., 2006. Techniques used for the Intensive Culture of Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in Ontario, Canada. In: Proceedings of the National Freshwater Aquaculture Symposium- Aquaculture Canada 2004. Johnson, J., D. Fielder, M. Hughes, R. Espinoza. 2012. Pilot cisco egg take and culture study. Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Fisheries Brief Report. Jokikokko, E.,A. Leskela, and A. Huhmarniemi. 2002. The effect of stocking size on the first winter survival of whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus(L.), in the Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic Sea. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 9: 79-85. Keller, M., K. D. Smith, and R. W. Rybicki. 1990. Review of salmon and trout management in Lake Michigan. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Special Report 14, Lansing. Kocik, J. F., and Jones, M. L. 1999. Pacific salmonines in the Great Lakes basin. Pages 455-488 in W.W. Taylor and C.P. Ferreri, editors. Great Lakes fisheries policy and management: a binational perspective. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing. Koelz, W. 1929. Coregonid fishes of the Great Lakes. Bulletin of the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries 43:297-643. Lake Huron Technical Committee 2007. Strategy and options for promoting the rehabilitation of cisco in Lake Huron. Lake Huron Technical Committee, Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Larson, D. L., K. Donner, and G. J. Fischer. Evaluation of Marking Methodology for Native Cisco. Final Report. In Prep. 2016. Lawrie, A. H., and J. F. Rahrer. 1972. Lake Superior: effects of exploitation and introductions on the salmonid community. Journal Fisheries Research Board of Canada 29:765-776. Link, J., and M. H. Hoff. 1998. Relationships of lake herring (Coregonus artedi) gill raker characteristics to retention probabilities of zooplankton prey. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 13: 55-65. Link, J., J. H. Selgeby, M. H. Hoff, and C. Haskell. 1995. Winter diet of lake herring (Coregonus artedi) in western Lake Superior. J. Great Lakes Res. 21 :395-399. Luczynski, M. 1985. Survival of Coregonus albula(L.) (Teleostei) embryos incubated at different thermal conditions. Hydrobiologies 121: 51-58. Madenjian, C. P., E.S. Rutherford, M. A. Blousin, B. J. Sederburg, and J. R. Elliot. Spawning habitat unsuitability: an impediment to cisco rehabilitation in Lake Michigan? North American Journal of Fisheries Management 31:905-913. Madenjian, C. P., R. O’Gorman, D. B. Bunnell, R.A. Argyle, E.F. Roseman, D. M. Warner, J. D. Stockwell, and M. A. Stepanian. 2008. Adverse effects of alewives on Laurentian Great Lakes fish communities. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 28:263-282. Pangle, K. L., and T. M. Sutton, and P. B. Brown. 2003. Evaluation of practical and natural diets for juvenile lake herring. North American Journal of Aquaculture 65: 91-98. Pangle, K. L., S. D. Pecor, and O. E. Johannsson. 2007. Large nonlethal effects of an invasive invertebrate predator on zooplankton population growth rate. Ecology 88:402-412. Pangle, K. L., T. M. Sutton, R. E. Kinnunen, and M. H. Hoff. 2004. Overwinter survival of juvenile lake herring in relation to body size, physiological condition, energy stores, and food ration. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 133: 1235-1246. Raisanen, G. R., and D. J. Behmer. 1982. Rearing lake whitefish to fingerling size. Progressive Fish Culturist. 44(1): 33-36. Reed, K. M., M. O. Dorschner, T. N. Todd, and R. B. Phillips. 1998. Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region of ciscoes (genus Coregonus): taxonomic implications for the Great Lakes species flock. Molecular Ecology 7: 1091-1096. Riley, S. C., E. F. Roseman, S. J. Nichols, T. P. O’Brien, C. S. Kiley, and J. S. Schaeffer. 2008. Deepwater demersal fish community collapse in Lake Huron. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137:1879–1890. Salonen, E. and A. Mutenia. 2004. The commercial coregonid fishery in northernmost Finland – review. Ann. Zool. Fennici 41:351-355. Segner, H., R. Rosch, H. Schmidt, K. J. von Poeppinghausen. Studies on the suitability of commercial dry diets for rearing larval Coregonus lavaretus from Lake Constance. Aquatic Living Resource, 1988. 1: 231-238. Selgeby, J. H. 1982. Decline of the lake herring (Coregonus artedii) in Lake Superior: an analysis of the Wisconsin herring fishery, 1936-1978. Canadian Journal of Fisheries Aquatic Science 39:554-563. Smith, S. H. 1964. Status of the deepwater cisco population of Lake Michigan. Transaction of the American Fisheries Society 93:155-163.

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Smith, S. H. 1968. Species succession and fishery exploitation in the Great Lakes. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 25:667-693. Smith, S. H. 1970. Species interactions of the alewife in the Great Lakes. Transactions American Fisheries Society 99: 754-765. Smith, S. H. 1972. Factors of ecologic succession in oligotrophic fish communities of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 29:717–730. Szczepkowski, M., B. Szczepkowska, T. Kryzywosz. 2006. The impact of water temperature on selected rearing indices of juvenile whitefish (Coregonus Lavaretus (L.)) in a recirculating system. Archives of Polish Fisheries. Vol. 14: 1: 95-104. Tanner, H. A., and W. H. Tody. 2002. History of the Great Lakes salmon fishery: a Michigan perspective. Pages 139-154 in K. D. Lynch, M. L. Jones, and W. W. Taylor, editors. Sustaining North American salmon: perspectives across regions and disciplines. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. Todd, T. N., and R. M. Stedman. 1989. Hybridization of ciscoes (Coregonus spp.) in Lake Huron. Canadian Journal of Zoology 67:1679-1685. Todd, T. N. 2003. Status of the shortjaw cisco, Coregonus zenithicus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Ottawa. Todd, T. N. 1986. Artificial propagation of coregonines in the management of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 22:31-50. Turgeon, J., Estoup, A. and Bernatchez, L. 1999. Species flock in the North American Great Lakes: molecular ecology of Lake Nipigon ciscoes (Teleostei: Coregonidae: Coregonus). Evolution 53: 1857-1871. Wells, L., and A. L. McLain. 1972. Lake Michigan: effects of exploitation, introductions, and eutrophication on the salmonid community. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 29: 889-898. Westman, K., U. Eskelinen, P. Tuunainen, and E. Ikonen. 1984. A review of fish stocking in Finland. European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission 1984. Commission documents presented at the Symposium on stock enhancement in the management of fresh water fisheries. Volume 1. Stocking. Budapest, Hungary. EIFAC Tech. Paper (42) Suppl. Vol.1: 252-268. Zimmerman, M.S., and Krueger, C.C. 2009. An ecosystem perspective on re-establishing native deepwater fishes in the Laurentian Great Lakes. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29:1352–1371.

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THIS PUBLICATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST:

UWSP NORTHERN AQUACULTURE DEMONSTRATION FACILITY 36445 STATE HWY 13

P.O. BOX 165 BAYFIELD, WI 54814

PHONE: 715-779-3262

EMAIL: EWIERMAA@UWSP.EDU

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