Join the crew of the R/V Lake Char on a one-week research expedition on Lake Superior, courtesy of a short film that follows the DNR fisheries research vessel to Klondike Reef. The crew collected data on lake trout, an important native species in this Great Lake. Trout numbers have recently met recovery goals after disruption due to invasive species, pollution and overharvest.
You'll learn about the crew's roles, the fish sampling process, and why this research is important for managing Michigan's fisheries. Fun fact: It was on this expedition that the oldest lake trout in the Great Lakes – 62 years old at the time of capture – was discovered!
"Some of the information we can apply to other offshore locations – places like Stannard Rock, Isle Royale and Big Reef – where we don't know a lot about the fish, but the fish in areas like Klondike Reef might be similar," said DNR fisheries technician Dan Traynor. "What we learned by studying the fish here may help us better understand and manage fish in those other offshore reef locations."
Questions about the expedition? Email Shawn Sitar, research biologist who was the DNR lead for this project, at SitarS@Michigan.gov.