The Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act would establish a formal federal program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tag hatchery-produced fish released into the Great Lakes. Currently operating on a limited basis since 2010, the program annually marks between 9 and 11 million of the approximately 21 million hatchery fish stocked in the Great Lakes to help fishery managers understand how well their operations and management decisions are working. The program affects federal, state, and tribal agencies across eight Great Lakes states and Indian tribes that manage the region's fisheries, which generate over $7 billion in economic value. The bill authorizes $5 million in funding annually from 2025 through 2029 to expand the program by purchasing equipment and tagging supplies and hiring additional personnel. The data collected would be shared with all participating agencies to improve fish species recovery efforts, balance predator and prey populations, and support recreational and commercial fishing interests.
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