About Us

Established in 1992, the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office meets Service fishery goals in Lake Huron, western Lake Erie and connecting waterways of the St. Marys River, St. Clair River and Detroit River. Activities operate from three substations located in Michigan. The Alpena, MI office coordinates activities conducted on Lake Huron; the Detroit River Fish Laboratory located in Gibraltar, MI coordinates activities conducted in western Lake Erie and the St. Clair-Detroit River System; and the M/V Spencer F. Baird vessel is docked in Cheboygan, MI and conducts offshore fish stocking and research in lakes Michigan and Huron. 

Our Mission

We work to conserve and restore native fish species, monitor for aquatic invasive species, restore aquatic habitat that benefits fish and wildlife and assist tribal and national wildlife refuge partners with fishery issues.

Our History

1992 - The office was established in Alpena, Michigan under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to meet Service priorities on Lake Huron and western Lake Erie.

2002 - Activities were first initiated at the now Detroit River Fish Laboratory (substation) to meet fishery goals in western Lake Erie and the connecting channels of the St. Clair-Detroit River System.

2006 - The M/V Spencer F. Baird, a 95-foot fish stocking vessel, was commissioned to continue Service offshore fish stocking. Offshore fish stocking began in 1989 using the M/V Togue which was decommissioned and replaced with the M/V Spencer F. Baird.

2020 - Detroit River Fish Laboratory was co-located near the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.