What does our Representative Cam Cavitt have against us anglers?

I cannot help but like Mr. Cavitt personally, but he has deeply disappointed me in his support of two bills that target our natural resources. He has just signed off on a budget plan that would cut an already overworked Fisheries Division to the bone. And he cosponsored last year’s House Bill 5108 that would have expanded commercial fishing and allowed the commercial harvest of species that have been classed as recreational – that is, classed for harvesting by anglers and not for commercial sale. Species such as lake trout and walleye that were restored using recreational fishing license dollars and Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration funds. Overfishing by the commercial fishery combined with invasive sea lampreys caused their near eradication.

The commercial fishery, thanks to Mr. Cavitt’s sponsorship of HB5108, would have been unleashed on these species again. I met with Mr. Cavitt last year, but I was unable to persuade him to change his position on this bill.

Back to the recent budget passed by the House. I am a fisherman, so I will focus on its threats to fishing. But be assured that hunters, parks users, and law enforcement are also in this budget plan’s sights. The DNR would suffer a loss of 435 people overall. The Land Policy Institute of Michigan State University in collaboration with the Heart of the Lakes organization concluded in 2007 that only ONE STATE SPENDS LESS per capita than Michigan on natural resources and environmental protection. An American Fisheries Society survey came to the same conclusion regarding our fisheries. Matters have only gotten worse since then. Cavitt’s budget bill would almost assure that “The Great Lakes State” comes in dead last in funding stewardship of its vast resources. The House budget bill would restrict the DNR to the point that it could not even spend all its license revenues and could lose federal aid. These are unnecessary restrictions that smack of retribution rather than fiscal responsibility.

What does Mr. Cavitt have against the DNR? Focusing on fisheries, the House budget plan would slash an already beleaguered Fisheries Division staff by 25%. Michigan is blessed with more freshwater fishery resources than any other state. Our fishery workforce is tasked with more water area per fishery worker of any state. Thanks to their work, Michigan’s fisheries are worth $3.9 billion to our economy. We sometimes take these benefits for granted, which is a huge mistake. In the 1960s, the Great Lakes were actually a drag on our economy: the lake trout and walleye were all dead from overfishing and sea lamprey depredation. With no predators left, the invasive alewife exploded. In the summer of 1967, 20 billion dead alewives were strewn along the east shore of Lake Michigan, from Chicago to Mackinaw. The stench and flies forced beach closures during the height of the tourist season. The cleanup costs were massive.

Thanks to sea lamprey control and restocking of fish, led by the Michigan Fisheries Division, the Great Lakes are now a multibillion-dollar world-class recreational fishery. The lion’s share of this work was funded by fishing and hunting license dollars. Most people like to think their tax dollars contribute to the care and management of our Great Lakes. Not quite true; 95% of the State’s fishery work is funded by license fees and taxes on sportfishing equipment. The House plan would cut tax dollar support to zero.

If you wish to fund the State’s protection and management of the Great Lakes, buy a fishing license!The House budget would reduce fish stocking by 50% and cut funding for fishery assessments, making it almost impossible to determine whether trout and salmon stocking is in balance with the Great Lakes food they prey upon. This irresponsible action of the State House would put our fisheries and the economies of our coastal communities at risk. Fortunately, the Senate has yet to respond to the House proposal and could lead the budget process back to a more responsible track.

If you care about our natural resources, please write to your state senator and the governor to urge a more rational, responsible approach to financing our natural resource. It is simply wrong that Michigan, “The Water Wonderland,” could soon rank dead last among the states in its funding of natural resource stewardship.

Retired fishery biologist Jim Johnson grew up in Michigan and learned to fish at my grandparent’s at Port Sanilac, on the shores of Lake Huron. He was a fishery biologist in Nebraska and Utah for 17 years before moving to Alpena in 1989, where he served for 25 years as the Department of Natural Resources’ Alpena Fishery Research Station leader. Johnson is currently a member of the DNR’s Lake Huron Citizen Fishery Advisory Committee and a board member of both Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan and the Hammond Bay Anglers Association.