Arctic Grayling Make a Comeback in Michigan Waters

This November , 1,800 Arctic grayling were released into three northern Michigan lakes, marking a significant milestone in the state’s effort to re-establish this species, absent from Michigan waters for nearly a century. These fish, originally hatched from eggs transported from Alaska, were raised at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery before being stocked in Alger, Houghton, and Manistee counties.

This release is part of the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative, launched in 2016 by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, aimed at restoring self-sustaining grayling populations. Although the current generation of grayling is unlikely to reproduce due to lack of imprinting on the local waters, future generations are expected to be raised in Michigan streams, with the first eggs potentially being stocked as early as spring 2025.

Grayling were once a prominent species in Michigan, especially vital to the Anishinabek people and a favorite among anglers. However, overfishing, habitat degradation, and the introduction of non-native species led to their extinction in the state by 1936. The ongoing efforts to reintroduce them are part of a broader goal to restore Michigan’s ecological heritage.

For more information on the Arctic grayling restoration efforts, visit the Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database.