Jib Lubner on WISN boating safety

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Fish Are Jumping—Off Assembly Line

Perch, Loved in Milwaukee but Decimated in Lake Michigan, Find New Life in an Old Factory; On the Side: Fresh Produce

Wall St Journal

By JOE BARRETT

MILWAUKEE—Josh Fraundorf remembers when yellow perch were so plentiful in Lake Michigan that people pulled out all they could eat with just a bamboo pole and some worms.

Now, they have to come to places like this old factory south of downtown.

With the lake's population of wild perch decimated, Mr. Fraundorf is helping the fish make an unlikely comeback, raising about 80,000 yellow perch and tilapia in tanks inside a cavernous former crane factory that sat empty for decades.

That's not all the factory produces. Stacked over the 10 four-foot deep tanks are hydroponic planting beds lit by lamps. The fish waste produces ammonia that microorganisms convert into food for lettuce and other plants, cleaning the water for the fish.

Fish and Lettuce in Harmony

With the population of wild yellow perch in Lake Michigan decimated, a company is helping the fish make an unlikely comeback in a cavernous factory, raising both fish and lettuce in a mutually beneficial relationship.

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Jon Lowenstein/Noor for The Wall Street Journal

Sweet Water Organics has converted a former crane factory in Milwaukee into an indoor wetland, raising about 80,000 fish in tanks topped by beds of lettuce and other crops.

"It's like an indoor wetlands," said Mr. Fraundorf, 35 years old, who co-founded Sweet Water Organics Inc. with James Godsil, his partner in a separate roofing and construction business.

Yellow perch have dark stripes and grow up to 12 inches in the wild. In Milwaukee, the firm, sweet fish is usually served battered and fried with German potato salad, rye bread and beer.

Perch once dominated Friday fish fries, a Midwest tradition especially prominent in this heavily Catholic city. But the perch population in Lake Michigan collapsed in the mid-1990s, partly because of the proliferation of zebra mussels. The voracious mussels, which hitchhiked to the lake in the hulls of ocean-going ships, choked off the food supply for baby perch.

In 1996, Wisconsin joined other Lake Michigan states in halting commercial fishing for perch. Commercial fishermen caught 7.9 million pounds of perch in the other Great Lakes in 2005, compared with 18.1 million pounds in 1980, according to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

While efforts to help the perch in the lakes continue, entrepreneurs are trying to revive the fish on shore, in part because it can command a hefty $16 a pound.

"Perch were born to be fried," said Fred P. Binkowski, a senior scientist of fisheries biology with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Great Lakes Water Institute. Mr. Binkowski provides Sweet Water and similar operations with technical assistance and baby perch that he breeds under research agreements with the companies.

One company he works with is Bell Aquaculture LLC, an indoor fish farm built in a former farm field near Muncie, Ind.

Bell has invested some $50 million and has been raising perch for three years. It sells about two million fish a year to restaurants and food distributors, said Norman McCowan, president and chief executive. The closely held company expects to turn its first profit next year and eventually produce six million perch annually.

About five years ago, Sweet Water's Mr. Godsil started volunteering and eventually became a board member at Growing Power, a nonprofit urban-farming operation in Milwaukee run by MacArthur Foundation Fellow Will Allen. Mr. Allen pioneered the idea of raising fish and vegetables together to create jobs and healthy foods close to where people live, especially in cities.

Sweet Water hopes to expand on his vision and prove it can be profitable.

In January 2009, the partners leased an old factory building and invested about $500,000 to fix it up and build the tanks and planting beds.

They had a setback in September when an automatic fish feeder dumped four times as much food as needed into a tank containing about 5,000 perch. Some 2,000 sick fish were pulled from the toxin-choked water and added to the compost pile out back, Mr. Fraundorf said.

Bugs and vermin that had thrived in the unused building posed another problem. "We were creating a paradise" for them, said Jesse Hull, Sweet Water's horticulture expert.

Exterminating plant bugs is difficult in aquaponics because even organic insecticides can be harmful to fish. Since arriving six months ago, Mr. Hull has brought in predator bugs such as green lacewings and nematodes and plants that help control the problem.

Sweet Water has been selling about 150 pounds of lettuce and other greens a week, and sold its first 3,000 yellow perch this spring. Perch-lovers lined up to buy whole fish for $5 each. (It takes three to four to get a pound of fillet.) More fish should be big enough to sell by late summer.

The Coquette Cafe in Milwaukee's historic Third Ward recently offered Sweet Water fish in an upscale fish fry, dipping the perch in batter from its own Rendez-Vous beer and serving it with pomme frites, Coquette slaw and saffron tartar sauce.

Delivered in coolers, the fish "were literally jumping around," said Coquette co-owner Chris Hatleli. "It doesn't get any fresher than that."

Mr. Fraundorf hopes this fall to begin to show a profit after selling his 45,000 tilapia and switching solely to perch.

He has big expansion plans for the six-employee company. By the end of the year, he hopes to be raising about 300,000 perch and employing around 20 workers—and double those figures next year. He eventually wants to add two more sites in Milwaukee and sell 400,000 to 500,000 pounds of perch a year, plus 800 to 1,000 pounds of produce a week.

Mr. Fraundorf isn't worried about exceeding demand anytime soon. "We're just scratching the surface," he said.

George Sweet, general manager of American Serb Hall, which offers one of the biggest Friday fish fries in the city, agrees.

Last Good Friday, Serb Hall served 4,000 to 5,000 pounds of fish, including perch, in one day, Mr. Sweet said, adding, "It's traditional Wisconsin."

Write to Joe Barrett at joseph.barrett@wsj.com

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Aquatic invaders come in small packages, too

Bayview Compass
May 1, 2010

By Jennifer Yauck

Graduate student Paul Engevold rinses down a sampling net to capture waterfleas and other plankton from Lake Michigan in a collection cup.

~photo John Karl, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Graduate student Paul Engevold rinses down a sampling net to capture waterfleas and other plankton from Lake Michigan in a collection cup. ~photo John Karl, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Of the roughly 200 non-native animal and plant species that have established themselves in the Great Lakes since the 1800s, the ones that most grab our attention are often relatively large. There’s the sea lamprey. The alewife. The zebra mussel and quagga mussel. And now-not yet established, but knocking on Lake Michigan’s door-the really large Asian carp.

But small, less visible non-native species also invade the Great Lakes. And, despite their size, some have the potential to impact the lakes’ ecosystems in a big way.

UW-Milwaukee (UWM) researchers have been studying two such tiny invaders-zooplankton known as the spiny waterflea and the fishhook waterflea-to better understand their effects on Lake Michigan’s food web. Named for their barbed and hooked tails, respectively, adult spiny and fishhook waterfleas measure between just a quarter-inch and half-inch long, with their thin tails accounting for most of that length.

The two invaders are native to seas near the Europe-Asia border and were likely transported to the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ships. The spiny waterflea was first spotted in Lake Michigan in the late 1980s; the fishhook waterflea in the late 1990s. Both are found in all of the Great Lakes to varying degrees, and the spiny waterflea is also found in some inland waters. They are especially abundant in Lake Erie, where they cause trouble for fishermen by collecting on lines and nets in gelatinous globs.

Carnivorous Invaders

“One reason we’re interested in them is because they’re big-time carnivores,” said John Berges, associate professor in UWM’s Biological Sciences Department. Berges is collaborating with project leader Craig Sandgren, associate professor and chair of the department, on the research.

In particular, the waterfleas eat other tiny zooplankton-and that can have an impact up the food web by reducing the amount of food available for young, zooplankton-eating fish. Adding insult to injury, the waterfleas themselves don’t make good meals for young fish because their tails make them hard to digest. “It’s like the nice, grassy pasture was replaced with bramble,” Berges said.
This fishing line is covered with a mass of spiny waterfleas. ~photo Jeff Gunderson, Minnesota Sea Grant

This fishing line is covered with a mass of spiny waterfleas. ~photo Jeff Gunderson, Minnesota Sea Grant

The waterfleas’ diets also can have an impact down the food web. If the waterfleas feed heavily on herbivorous zooplankton-those that feed on phytoplankton, or tiny algae-the algae can grow unchecked, and nuisance algal blooms can result.

And although both waterfleas occupy spots in the middle of the food web, they may actually “cooperate” with one another-by favoring different types of zooplankton prey, for example-rather than compete, thereby amplifying their impact, Berges said.

Who’s Eating Whom?

To get a more detailed picture of how the invasive waterfleas are affecting Lake Michigan’s food web, Berges and Sandgren are comparing the current and historical compositions of the food web, and working to identify “who eats whom,” Berges said.

But determining exactly “whom” waterfleas eat isn’t simple. “Ideally, you’d like to become the Jane Goodall of waterfleas and watch what they do [in their environment], but that’s not possible,” Berges said. Neither is examining their gut contents for visually identifiable prey, because the waterfleas feed like vampires, sucking out their prey’s bodily fluids.

So instead the researchers collect samples of plankton-filled water from the lake and put them in incubators in the lab under simulated natural light and temperature conditions. After counting the various organisms in the samples, they wait to see “who disappears,” Berges said. So far, they’ve found the waterfleas are “pretty ravenous,” and able to eat most other zooplankton species they encounter. “This tells us what they are capable of, but it doesn’t necessarily tell us what they can do in a natural ecosystem,” cautioned Berges.

So the researchers are also taking an immunochemical approach, developing antibodies that are specific to several of the waterfleas’ probable prey species. The antibodies will allow the researchers to detect those species’ bodily fluids if they are among the waterfleas’ gut contents. They’ve currently developed antibodies for 12 prey species, and will test them later this year.

Thus far, the researchers’ field investigations reveal a marked decline in some of Lake Michigan’s native zooplankton. But Berges said it isn’t clear yet if the invasive waterfleas are the sole culprits. “Changes in climate and nutrient cycling in the lake may also be factors, and their effects are much harder to tease out,” he said.
The fishhook waterflea (top) has an angled tail with a distinctive hook at the end, while the spiny waterflea (bottom) has a straight, barbed tail. These two aquatic invaders are native to seas near the Europe-Asia border and were likely transported to the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ships. ~courtesy NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

The fishhook waterflea (top) has an angled tail with a distinctive hook at the end, while the spiny waterflea (bottom) has a straight, barbed tail. These two aquatic invaders are native to seas near the Europe-Asia border and were likely transported to the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ships. ~courtesy NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

Berges said that although there are reasons to be concerned about the waterfleas, they haven’t yet taken over Lake Michigan to the extent they have elsewhere, like Lake Erie. That in itself is interesting, he said, and the researchers would like to figure out why it’s the case. “It would help us understand the factors that might help control them, in order to limit invasions in other lakes or to counteract the current invasion.”

Jennifer Yauck is a science writer at the Great Lakes WATER Institute. GLWI (glwi.uwm.edu) is the largest academic freshwater research facility on the Great Lakes.
Stopping aquatic hitchhikers

The spiny and fishhook waterfleas can spread to inland waters via boats and fishing gear. Females can reproduce without mating, so only one individual is needed to infest a body of water.

To help stop the spread of invasive waterfleas, do the following before leaving a boat launch site:

* REMOVE plants, animals, and mud from your boat, trailers, and equipment
* DRAIN water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers
* DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash
* Report new sightings of waterfleas in inland waters to your local Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources office.

Sources: The Wisconsin and Indiana Departments of Natural Resources and Minnesota Sea Grant.

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14 area bodies of water have problems with excess toxins

Green Bay Press Gazette
By Mike Hoeft • mhoeft@greenbaypressgazette.com • April 19, 2010

Fourteen bodies of water off the lower Fox River basin, including Green Bay, have poor water quality because of excessive sediment and nutrients.

People are cautioned about eating fish caught in the Fox River due to polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury contamination.

A dredging program is under way to remove PCBs from the lower Fox River. The toxic sediments were byproducts of papermaking and dumped in the river by paper mills from 1957 to 1971.

The state is considering proposals to clean up the polluted lower Fox River basin by setting a total maximum daily load allocation for phosphorous and suspended solids. That allocation is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still safely meet water quality standards, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Scientists first must determine the origin of the pollutants. Water samples will be collected in the basin, and a computer model will be developed to estimate the amount and origin of phosphorous.

The plan will be released for public review in May.

Suspended sediments and phosphorus cause most of the water quality problems in the bay and are more problematic than PCBs, said Vicki Harris, water quality and coastal ecosystems specialist for the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute.

Phosphorus causes algae blooms in waterways.

Suspended sediments fill in the navigation channels, bury fish spawning habitat, smother fish eggs and result in murky, turbid water that blocks sunlight from reaching beneficial rooted aquatic vegetation that supplies fish habitat and food for waterfowl. The result can mean lower waterfront property values and poorer recreational habitat.

Charles Verhoeven, regional water program leader for the state Department of Natural Reources in Green Bay, said his department works to enforce the Clean Water Act, assure clean drinking water, enhance fisheries and enhance the public trust.

Fishing is a $2.3 billion industry in Wisconsin, and the state is second only to Florida in the number of out-of-state fishing licenses sold, he said.

"Businesses and industries have the right to use, but not abuse the resource," he said.

The Fox River is the highest contributor of phosphorous to Lake Michigan, and almost half of that comes from agriculture, said Bill Hafs, Brown County Land Conservation director.

Hafs said Brown County has applied for federal grants to help protect area waters.

The funding would buffer streams to prevent runoff from farm land into Baird Creek on Green Bay's east side, relocate high-phosphorous waste to low-phosphorous fields, restore west shore pike habitat and improve soils by using gypsum.

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After 73 years, it's time for new Burger Boat vessel

Post Cresent
April 15, 2010
Burger Boat lands state contract to build vessel monitoring lakes' marine life

By Charlie Mathews • Gannett Wisconsin Media • April 15, 2010

MANITOWOC — A new, 60-foot research vessel will help monitor fish populations and, possibly, increase employment at Burger Boat Co.

"People will be put to work now," said Matt Frank, secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources before signing the contract to build the RV Coregonus with Jim Ruffolo, president of the 163-year-old boat builder with yard alongside the Manitowoc River.

A news release from the DNR said the vessel would be built at a cost of $1.9 million. Completion is expected in 2011.

Ruffolo said Burger Boat employs about 250 people and the new contract "may bring back a few" hull workers who have been laid off.

"We will continue to focus on the custom yacht market but are expanding into commercial, government, fire and rescue and foreign military," Ruffolo said.

This year, Burger Boat is scheduled to complete two tri-deck motor yachts — a 142-footer and a 140-footer — with its global customers in recent years typically investing more than $15 million in their ocean-going vessels.

However, the Coregonus will mainly ply the waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior performing research vital to the economic health of the commercial and sport fishing industries, Frank said.

He said sport fishing alone generates about $419 million in revenue and sustains 5,000 jobs.

"This is a good day … it represents our continued commitment to have good science and data to understand what is going on in our lakes and make the right decisions to enhance and protect these resources for decades to come," Frank said.

The boat is named for the fish genus that includes lake whitefish, lake herring and bloater chubs. It replaces the nearly 75-year-old Barney Devine, also built by Burger Boat in 1937.

Frank said Burger's manufacturing quality ensures that the Coregonus will be in service "for the rest of the 21st century or most of it."

He said DNR researchers would have state-of-the-art technology on the vessel, enabling surveys of water quality, different fish populations, as well as invasive species, algae, zebra mussels and other challenges to the economic health of the fishing industry.

"It also will be a safer boat for our staff who will spend many hours on this boat in all kinds of weather … and we know how Lake Michigan can get pretty feisty," Frank said.

He said the Coregonus also will be more efficient, with a top speed of 20 knots, versus 10 knots for the Barney Devine, cutting in half the current 15 hours it takes researchers to travel from Sturgeon Bay to Milwaukee.

It will be capable of gill netting, trawling and serving as the on-water base for SCUBA divers performing research projects.

Frank didn't want any of the officials, employees and news media gathered at the contract signing to get the wrong idea.

"Although they are very good at building boats like the one we are going to buy from them, their main business is building really nice yachts," Frank said of Burger Boat.

"We didn't add any of those luxury features to this boat … but we know it will be well-built and last for years to come," he said.

Frank said Gov. Jim Doyle appreciates Burger's expertise and economic impact and was pleased to award the company $3.3 million in state grants in the past five years to improve its shipbuilding capabilities.

"As much as we love Burger, we have state purchasing rules … Burger had to compete to get this contract. But it should be no surprise it won the competition," Frank said.

Ruffolo and Burger Boat officials will continue to try and win the competition to build mega-yachts.

Ruffolo said Burger Boat was represented at the Abu Dhabi show in the United Arab Emirates in February, as well as international boat shows in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach.

He said potential clients "are just not sure what the economy is going to do. Because of economic conditions there are many boats out there on the used market at low prices.

"Everybody is taking a wait-and-see attitude," Ruffolo said.

Charlie Mathews writes for the Herald Times Reporter, Manitowoc

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Global warming a factor in Lake Superior sea lamprey problem

A UW-Madison researcher says global warming is factoring into Lake Superior’s growing problem with invasive, blood-sucking parasites that attack fish.

By: Jules Miller, Wisconsin Public Radio, Superior Telegram
3/31/10

Zoologist Jim Kitchell has $200,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant program to look at climate change’s effects on sea lampreys. He says climate change has reduced ice cover on Lake Superior, meaning less radiation from the sun is reflected off its surface. He considers it now to be the most rapidly warming lake in the world. Kitchell says that warming trend increases the lampreys’ breeding and feeding cycle. He says the sea lamprey is more effective for a longer period of time each year, more fish will lose blood, and as lampreys get bigger, they will become predators.

Kitchell says adult lampreys in Lake Superior are about 40-percent bigger than half a century ago. He admits there's no way to completely eradicate them. But he hopes his research can help monitor and control their breeding in streams connected to the lake.

Tags: lake superior, climate change, global warming, news, wisconsin, lamprey

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Phil Moy on WPT's Here and Now

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