Environmental groups have asked the state to reverse a permit that allows a commercial fish hatchery to expand on a legendary northern Michigan trout stream.
The Grayling Fish Hatchery is located along the AuSable River, which is renowned for its trout fishing. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups say that trout population could be threatened by pathogens and parasites from a fish farm that’s allowed to raise as much as 300,000 pounds of fish.
“Frankly, we think it’s a lousy, lousy place for a commercial fish operation,” said the Sierra Club’s Marvin Roberson.
The complaint says there are not enough protections to ensure the Grayling Fish Hatchery won’t allow diseases and parasites to escape into the AuSable River.
“The permit doesn’t require those pools to be monitored to see whether or not fish or parasites or diseases are escaping from the facility,” said Roberson, “and we think it’s outlandish to say: you don’t have to check to see whether those things are getting out.”
A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality say the agency is closely monitoring the water around the hatchery, and will act quickly if there’s a problem.
“It’s a great piece of water and everybody recognizes that at the state level, so we’re keeping an eye on this facility as it starts to ramp up,” said Brad Wurfel of the DEQ. “The AuSable is a special place.”
Wurfel says the agency is particularly focused on discharges and conditions conducive to “whirling fish” disease, which is caused by a parasite that’s bedeviled the AuSable’s trout population. He says the DEQ is also using the Grayling fish farm to help develop standards to govern a growing aquaculture industry in Michigan.
