Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, to Michiganders, the Great Lakes are more than just a natural resource. They are a source of pride for our State, a cornerstone of our identity, and a home to our world-class fisheries.

From Lake Michigan to Lake Erie, generations of anglers have cast their lines into these great waters, and families like mine have taken their children and grandchildren to make their first catch, creating meaningful and lasting memories.

These fisheries are also a lifeline for our local economy. Taken together, the Great Lakes commercial, recreational, and Tribal fisheries generate over $7 billion annually and support over 75,000 jobs.

That is why I am proud to join Representatives Debbie Dingell and Bill Huizenga on the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act, which will build on the success of the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program to implement the large-scale marking of fish in all hatcheries.

In 2023, an angler from Sheboygan caught a 35-inch lake trout--I am jealous--which was marked as part of the program. Its coded tag revealed that the trout hatched in 1984 and was raised at the Iron River National Fish Hatchery before being stocked on Sheboygan Reef in 1985.

Data like this allows us to better understand migratory patterns and population changes. By expanding the program to all Great Lakes hatcheries, we can improve fishing practices, increase efficiencies, and save resources wherever possible.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act so that we can preserve our fisheries and be better stewards of this great national treasure.

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