Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025

This bill creates a Great Lakes Mass Marking Program inside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program tags hatchery-raised fish so scientists and managers can tell them apart from wild fish. The data helps states and Tribes set stocking levels, balance predators and prey, and track whether habitat and fishery plans are working. The program must share its data with federal, state, and Tribal fish managers to support fish recovery and healthy fisheries across the region.

The agency can buy tagging gear, tags, and other tools, and hire staff to run tagging and tag‑recovery work. It must work closely with states, Tribes, and Great Lakes fishery groups. The bill notes that mass marking has been used in the basin since 2010 and that millions of hatchery fish are stocked each year, making this coordinated approach important for both the ecosystem and the regional economy. It authorizes $2.7 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program .

• Who is affected: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; state and Tribal fish agencies around the Great Lakes; recreational, commercial, and Tribal fisheries that rely on healthy fish stocks.
• What changes: A formal program to mass‑tag hatchery fish; more equipment and staff; required collaboration; and open sharing of data to guide fishery decisions and restoration efforts.
• When: Funding is authorized for 2026–2030 at $2.7 million each year.

Overall, this aims to give managers better, faster information so they can keep Great Lakes fisheries healthy and productive for the long run.