Lake Superior Management Update To Be Held On Nov. 18

BAYFIELD, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. to discuss the management of Lake Superior’s unique resources.

The Nov. 18 virtual meeting will address:

• the proposed new lake trout quota;
• the proposed new cisco quota; and
• potential rule change options associated with the quota changes.

“While these will be the primary topics discussed, there will be an opportunity for participants to give input on any fisheries management topic,” said Brad Ray, DNR Lake Superior fisheries supervisor.

Lake trout are the primary target for recreational anglers in Lake Superior and cisco are the native prey of lake trout. Therefore, it is necessary to use the best science available to effectively manage these two fisheries and maintain the progress that has been made to protect these species from over harvest.

“Quotas for lake trout and cisco are used to maintain sustainable populations and are typically evaluated every three years,” Ray said. “Recent data suggests that current harvest limits may be too high, and we should update the quotas to maintain sustainable fisheries. This meeting will also allow us to update the public on the surveys used to monitor lake trout and cisco populations and the rationale for the updated quotas.”

Members of the public can access the meeting via Skype or by calling 866-715-6499 and entering passcode 7599820721#.

Due to the significant, community-wide impacts of the Lake Superior fishery, the DNR actively engages with diverse stakeholders to develop, implement and evaluate management goals and activities as outlined in the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan. This plan was approved on May 27, 2020 and requires that two meetings are held annually to communicate survey results to the public.

More information on Lake Superior fisheries management can be found on the DNR’s fisheries website.