{
  "id": 14755052,
  "title": "Michigan DNR to track fish stocking using 23andMe-style gene testing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/michigan-dnr-to-track-fish-stocking-using-23andme-style-gene-testing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T17:54:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/sci-tech/2026/10/15/michigan-dnr-to-track-fish-stocking-using-23andme-style-gene-testing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has started employing genetic testing to monitor the effectiveness of certain fish stocking initiatives. The annual subscription fee for this service is $205.00, including GST, with an automatic renewal at $233.00 per year. The DNR aims to determine if fish found in a specific water body are descendants of the parents of stocked fish, which helps them ascertain whether their substantial stocking investments are yielding positive results. Jen Johnson, a senior fisheries management biologist, explained that genetic testing is akin to using Ancestry.com or 23andMe to trace genetic relationships. The DNR dedicates nearly a third of its annual budget to fish rearing and stocking, with costs surpassing $11 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Genetic testing, known as parentage-based tracking, has proven to be cost-effective and efficient, providing valuable insights into the DNR's fish division activities. Randy Claramunt, the fisheries chief, highlighted that the tool will enable the division to assess the success of various stocking approaches. The DNR primarily breeds and stocks fish to introduce new fishing opportunities or bolster dwindling populations. Traditional tracking methods, such as tagging, have proven problematic due to issues like loss of tags or difficulty in verifying internal markers. Genetic testing offers a more accurate and cost-effective alternative. Johnson and her team conducted a pilot study in Dickinson and Iron counties, focusing on walleye stocking efforts. The results were promising, as 24 out of 25 fish caught in Lake Emily were found to be related to the stocked fish, indicating the success of the stocking program. However, in Hargerman Lake and Lake Ottawa, only two out of 147 and 34 fish, respectively, were genetically linked to the stocked fish. Further analysis revealed that the walleye in Hagerman Lake were not related to those stocked recently, while the walleye in that lake shared genetic similarities with those from Lake Gogebic, where fish were stocked in the 1980s. These findings suggest that the recent stocking efforts in Hagerman Lake were unsuccessful, while previous efforts were effective. The DNR aims to take genetic samples from 500 stocked walleye across the state to inform their stocking decisions, potentially leading to the discontinuation of ineffective stocking initiatives. This program could also be expanded to other species, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of various stocking strategies.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Michigan DNR uses genetic testing to track fish stocking effectiveness",
    "$205 annual cost for genetic testing service with automatic renewal",
    "Pilot study in Dickinson and Iron counties shows 96% success rate"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}