A bold decision created a fishing success story

By Brandon Schroeder<schroe45@msu.edu>, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University - August 19, 2026

Introducing salmon to the Great Lakes was one solution to a variety of problems, but it was not without risks.

Man is seen leaning down by the water with a net in his hand and is putting small fish from the net into the water. Photo: Michigan Department of Natural Resources — Dr. Howard Tanner is shown stocking young salmon called smolts. The story of the Great Lakes salmon fishery did not end with the first successful stocking. It continues through decades of research, monitoring, and adaptive management. Photo: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, this Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage trail story explores how fisheries have shaped Michigan and our country throughout history; and how these stories live on today through the people, fish, and fishing that connect our coastline, culture and Great Lakes identity.

In 1964, when Dr. Howard A. Tanner stepped into his role as chief of the Michigan Department of Conservation’s Fish Division this was the reality he faced: Native fish populations had sharply declined. Lake trout, once a dominant predator, had been decimated by invasive sea lampreys. Alewives, themselves non-native, had surged without natural controls. Tanner was not handed a simple problem to fix. He inherited a collapsed food web and a public searching for answers.

He and his colleagues made a bold decision: to introduce salmon into the Great Lakes. In the Pacific Northwest, species such as coho and Chinook salmon were well known as aggressive predators. They fed heavily on smaller forage fish and supported thriving recreational fisheries. They could also adapt from saltwater to freshwater. There were many variables to consider.

Stories like Tanner’s offer an opportunity to reflect on innovation and responsibility. The introduction of salmon to the Great Lakes was not simply a fisheries management decision. It was an example of how science, policy, and public need can intersect in transformative ways.

At the same time, Tanner himself, who died at the age of 102 in 2026, acknowledged the risks involved. Introducing a non-native species required careful consideration and ongoing management. It was not a solution without trade-offs. His work reminds us that stewardship is an ongoing process, not a one-time action.

Additional resources

Explore to learn more about Great Lakes fisheries:

Something Spectacular: My Great Lakes Salmon Story by Howard A. Tanner.
Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery — produced by Michigan Sea Grant with University of Michigan Press.
Small Fry, Big Catches: The Great Lakes Fishery — a Michigan History Magazine article published by the Historical Society of Michigan in partnership with Michigan Sea Grant.
Learn more about America250MI: america250mi.org.

The following worked together to bring you this learning series as part of Michigan’s America250 commemoration: Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage Trail network, Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, Fishtown Preservation Society, and others. This series has been made possible in whole or in part by America250MI.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).