The Department of Natural Resources’ fish harvest and egg-take is happening across Northern Michigan weirs.
After swimming in Lake Michigan for 3 to 4 years, salmon will swim upstream to spawn and die.
The in Traverse City traps and harvests salmon like Chinook, CoHo, and King Salmon before they die in the river.
If they are not harvested, the river would have anywhere from 3,000 to 20,000 dead fish lining its shores.
That is the amount of salmon the DNR harvest each year.
The fish that end up in the weir that aren’t salmon are released back into the river.
Every part of the salmon will end up being used.
They are sold to a pet food company and sold for human consumption depending on the quality.
The DNR has park interpreters at the Little Manistee Weir, The Boardman River Fish Weir, and the Platte River State Hatcher and Weir to give free tours.
DNR says that the fish harvest will take up to six weeks and will conclude in mid-October.
Join Regan Blissett and photojournalist Stephanie Adkins as they take a tour for themselves and see how you can too!
Call 231-922-5280 for information on harvest dates and times.
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