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Lake Trout Need Recovery

A declining lake trout population in the Apostle Islands region of Lake Superior has prompted the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board to adopt an emergency rule reducing the 2014-15 harvests at its December meeting.

Population assessments during the last six to eight years indicate the decline is tied to harvest levels. In addition to the board’s adoption of the emergency rule, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input to identify Lake Superior fisheries priorities and challenges to help guide long-term management of the fishery and increase awareness of the resource.

“We recommended the emergency rule to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery as well as the welfare of the state-licensed commercial fishers, Chippewa commercial fishers, recreational anglers and associated businesses that depend on lake trout,” said Terry Margenau, DNR Lake Superior fisheries supervisor. “Lake trout are a slow-growing species and harvest reductions are needed to allow some recovery.”

The goal of the new regulations is to reduce the overall harvest to 50,000 fish, which is still higher than the targets set in other lake trout management units. For more information about the recent public meeting, search dnr.wi.gov for “Lake Superior fisheries management meeting.”