I just wrapped up a grant applicatoin today that would allow us to get genetic testing started. The overall number of samples needed to do this right makes this a very expensive undertaking ($100,000+/-) and by far the largest (and perhaps most significant) project MMA has ever been associated with.

Here's a little snipet from the application that will hopefully get the first $10,000 toward this project:

This project will enable genetic resource evaluation of Great Lakes and natural muskellunge stocks in the state of Michigan. By examining genetic structure on a geographic scale that encompasses the majority of muskellunge populations remaining in the Great Lakes basin, we will gain a better understanding about the delineation of genetic management units throughout the Great Lakes. Project goals include:
– evaluation of natural breeding populations
– development of guidelines for broodstock selection
– development of guidelines to conserve genetic diversity

Michigan has recently developed a Muskellunge management plan that outlines strategies and objectives for quality muskellunge fishing opportunities. One of the strategies is to conserve genetic diversity of muskellunge to manage popular sport fisheries where these unique populations occur. Currently Michigan recognizes 112 inland and Great Lakes muskellunge waters across the state. Seventy-seven of these waters are sustained through natural reproduction. The project will concentrate on the native populations currently sustained by natural reproduction while also evaluating the naturalized (introduced supplementary stocked and reproducing) populations in comparison with waters maintained entirely by stocking.

Populations of muskellunge have undergone dramatic reductions in abundance and spatial distribution in the Great Lakes basin compared to their historic status. Genetic studies have provided valuable information on spatial population structure for aquatic species of management and conservation concern. The degree of spatial genetic structuring can be separated across large and small geographic scales. For example, populations of fishes in the Great Lakes may be structured by Lake Basin, by river drainage, or even among tributaries within river drainages. Genetic population structure in native Great Lakes fishes has been attributed to historical factors such as glacial events as well as more recent factors related to muskellunge ecology and human alterations such as the creation of dams and even stocking strategies. Muskellunge population structure information will be valuable in providing regulation changes to protect unique and popular muskellunge fisheries as well as contribute to the proper use of muskellunge strains in restoring historic muskellunge populations and sport fisheries. One important result of this study could be to utilize the popular Lake St. Clair muskellunge to restore other regional fisheries in Green Bay, Milwaukee River, Torch Lake, and lakes in the Cheboygan County chain of lakes; or should these unique populations be protected through more restrictive regulations.