Fish

Chemical contaminants in fish aren’t new. Mercury, PCBs, dioxins and DDT may be some familiar household names for fish-lovers. But the forever chemicals, PFAS, in fish are drawing more attention, as new research highlights their toxicity.

Commercial fishermen and aquaculture farmers participated in the education campaign dubbed Michigan Fresh Fish in a effort to show Lansing lawmakers the value of the protein in the state's economy.

Nearly 70 fish were reported dead in the Chippewa River following a chemical treatment that targets invasive sea lampreys. The by-kill is attributed to unusually warm weather conditions.

More than 22 million pounds of plastics end up in the Great Lakes every year. These plastics break down into smaller and smaller particles known as “microplastics,” which can now be found in fish, drinking water, and even our own blood.

If you like rainbow smelt from Michigan lakes, you may want to limit how many servings you eat. The state has recently updated its fish consumption guidelines to account for PFAS chemicals in smelt and carp.

A CMU research team is studying why two species of fish populations are trending in nearly opposite directions – and what this says about changing environmental conditions in lakes.

A recent study found that PFAS - or toxic “forever chemicals” - in Lake Michigan coho salmon, chinook salmon, lake trout, and rainbow trout can accumulate and be passed down to fish embryos.

A team of Icelandic biologists were in Michigan this week to launch the 100% whitefish initiative to try and convince Canadian, state, tribal and local officials that the value of lake whitefish can grow significantly.

WCMU has learned that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will pay $75,000 in a settlement with the Michigan Fish Producers Association. It was the result of a class-action lawsuit after fishermen accused the DNR of depriving them of their livelihoods.

One commercial fishing operation in Huron County has stopped harvesting yellow perch in Saginaw Bay and is attributing it to walleye.