OutdoorMN News - DNR, Bands set year 2000 walleye target for Lake Mille Lacs

[Rick]

In accordance with a court-ordered process, fish experts from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Indian Bands that prevailed in the 1837 Treaty lawsuit have reached agreement on walleye harvestable surplus levels for Lake Mille Lacs for the 2000 fishing season.

Based on a thorough review of fish population data, the walleye target is 370,000 pounds, according to Rick Bruesewitz, the DNR’s 1837 Treaty biologist. This amount is lower than last year’s target harvest level of 550,000 pounds but higher than the 1997 and 1998 levels. The walleye harvest at Mille Lacs has ranged from about 180,000 pounds in 1985 and 1994 to a high of about 1 million pounds in 1992.

Under a court-approved fish management plan, the bands are entitled to 70,000 pounds of walleye from Lake Mille Lacs this year. Non-band anglers will be allowed to harvest 300,000 pounds of walleye.

The recent agreement on a target level is the first step in an annual court-ordered process that establishes an appropriate sport-fishing regulation for Lake Mile Lacs. Next, DNR fisheries biologists will calculate the anticipated angler harvest for the coming year.

“Once we’ve done that and once the bands officially declare how many pounds of walleye they intend to harvest we can identify potential regulations that protect the fishery but allow band and non-band harvest,” Bruesewitz said.

The DNR will outline potential regulation changes at a Mille Lacs Fishing Input Group meeting later this month. This group, a citizen advisory committee, provides guidance to DNR Commissioner Al Garber, who will make the final regulation decision. Currently, at least seven potential walleye regulations have been identified such as a 17-inch maximum size limit, 17- to 20-inch harvest slot with one walleye over 28 inches allowed, or a 17- to 28-inch protected slot.

By court order, no more than 24 percent of Lake Mille Lacs’ walleye can be harvested per year. This percentage ensures that the lake will always have a healthy, self-sustaining walleye population. The recent DNR-Tribal meeting was a gathering of the 1837 Ceded Territory Fisheries Committee, which is composed of biologists from the DNR, Chippewa Indian bands and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Discuss below - to view set the hook here.

[ANYFISH2]

Interesting.

 

what a difference 20 years make.

[delcecchi]

2000?  history?  time machine?  WTF?