MMS Events

Schedule

5:15-6:00 pm    Check-in and Social

6:00-6:45 pm   Dinner

6:45-7:45 pm    Speaker: Storm Kettelhut, Fisheries Specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, presents Fisheries Management Under a Microscope: The Applied Science of Otolith Aging

Abstract:  Angling in Minnesota is a multibillion-dollar industry comprised of over 1.7 million recreational and commercial users. Sustainable management of the nearly 4,500 lakes and 16,000 miles of rivers and streams this fishing industry is reliant on has long been entrusted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Some of the earliest fisheries management techniques, such as population monitoring, fish stocking/removal, habitat enhancement, and harvest/use regulations, are still imbedded in the fundamentals of Minnesota’s fisheries management for those waters; however, the ever-evolving science guiding these practices has drastically changed the implementation and effectiveness of said techniques. One of the most significant advancements resulting in improved management practices, has been the adoption of fish aging via otoliths, a calcium carbonate structure located within the inner ear of bony fish. When prepared and viewed under a microscope, otoliths provide markedly more accurate age assignments than previously employed methods. An increase in aging accuracy has had far reaching implications for how fisheries biologists manage a wide range of species in Minnesota.

Speaker Bio:  Storm Kettelhut is a Fisheries Specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He has worked for the DNR for over six years with a broad range of fisheries management experience. His work extends from leading Walleye fingerling production in the Glenwood area to providing perspective on navigating the potential effects of angling-related technology on Minnesota’s recreational fisheries as a member of the DNR’s Technology Workgroup. Prior to pursuing a career in fisheries, Storm served three years active duty as an infantryman with the U.S. Army, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan. Upon completing his military service, he attended North Dakota State University, earning a B.S. in biology with an emphasis on conservation biology and fisheries management. He later attended graduate school at the University of Illinois before starting a career with the Minnesota DNR.