Between 2000 and 2004, about 78 percent of fresh and frozen salmon consumption in the United States was imported farmed salmon. (1) This seems to be the current trend in the US. Being a vegetarian I do not consume fish primarily for environmental reasons.  I was recently challenged on my perception of fishing in the Great Lakes so I thought I would look into the issue a bit more. Let’s look into a tad-bit of history.

• Lake Michigan contained one of the largest populations and fisheries for lake trout in the world just prior to the combined impacts of overfishing, sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) predation, alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) invasion, and habitat degradation (Hile et al. 1951; Eschmeyer 1957; Wells and McClain 1973; Holey et al. 1995; Eshenroder and Amatangelo 2002). By the early 1950s, all lake trout populations and the diversity of forms adapted to specific areas (Brown et al. 1981) were gone, sport and commercial fisheries had collapsed, and the lake was left without its dominant native predator. In addition, populations of cisco (formerly lake herring) (Coregonus artedi), one of the major preys of lake trout, were being displaced by the non-native alewife and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). (2)
• Chemical contamination of fish throughout the Great Lakes basin has raised continuing concerns for the health of those who eat Great Lakes fish, dampened the desire to fish for recreation, and rendered large quantities of fish flesh unavailable to the consumer. Discoveries of contaminants such as PCB, mirex, dioxin and furans, dieldrin, mercury, and DDT in fish flesh have resulted in continuing restrictions on consumption of some Great Lakes fish. Encouraged by the fishery commission, efforts have been under way for several years for jurisdictions to establish a uniform set of consumption advisories.(3)
• Going outside of the lakes is even more of a challenge. Since the ’80s, we’ve seen the surge of international trade, the accelerating aquaculture of fin fish ( “Norwegian” salmon) and — the most radical change of all — the rise of large-fleet fishing that began in the 1950s and has since depleted the stocks of fish in all the world’s oceans. (4) It is clear that shipping fish around the world is bad for everybody so I will not get into this.

What can we eat in Michigan? If you are alright with eating farmed fish then we would be in a better place with food mileage. But is it acceptable to be eating farmed fish? There are many benefits with farming fish but it also come with a fair share of problems. I choose to not eat farm raised fish because they are typically shipped from far away and when done locally they still have issues with polluting the water due to the heavy concentration waste, chemicals, and dead fish.

Michigan does still have the second largest fresh water lake system in the world so we should be able to fish there right? If we look past the history of pollution, invasive species, and over fishing what are we left with? I was unable to locate a data sheet showing how much fish was caught for consumer consumption in Michigan. My only way to locate a rough estimate is by observing what is being sold in the grocery stores. I have yet to find fish labeled “Caught in Michigan” in the Grand Rapids area. If you are aware of a sustainable fishing supply in west Michigan please share them.

Other Resources:

Great Lakes Fishing Commision: Publications & Links

Ending Overfishing in the U.S. South Atlantic

Carleton College: Fisheries Overview

NOAA: Fisheries Service and 2009 Buisness Report

References:

1. Overview of U.S. Salmon Consumption

2. A Guide for the Rehabilitation of Lake Trout in Lake Michigan

3. A JOINT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT OF GREAT LAKES FISHERIES

4. Loving Fish, This Time With the Fish in Mind