I don’t think this will resolve the over harvesting.
What over-harvesting? Have you looked at the DNR/Band surveys for the last few years?? There is no shortage of walleye in the Red Lakes. In fact there was a “surplus” of spawning sized fish that were targeted to be removed over the past year.
The Memorandum has been in existence for 20 years and has produced arguably the best walleye fishery in the State. This is one place where both sides are making it work.
Oh, and no one is paying to replenish the lake annually, it is all natural reproduction.
Here’s part of a Dec. 7th article from the Star Trib:
State and tribal fisheries managers will cut the walleye harvest on Red Lake next year by 20% to adjust to a reduction in spawners and to maintain a good quantity of the lake’s signature fish.
The change follows a year in which fishing regulations were loosened to check a walleye surplus. Henry Drewes, DNR regional fisheries manager in Bemidji, said spring/summer regulations will be determined in April after the winter catch is analyzed.
“When the fish are there, we loosen the harvest,” Drewes said. “We had a surplus in spawner stock abundance. … We’ve fallen back to ‘optimal.’ ”
The DNR and Red Lake Nation agreed to smaller harvest targets on Wednesday, the same day that the state and band renewed the official memorandums of understanding to co-manage Red Lake’s walleyes. The Chippewa band controls 85% of Minnesota’s largest inland lake. The remainder — 48,000 acres of Upper Red Lake — is state territory.
“Obviously, the fishery is in really good shape,’’ DNR Fisheries Chief Brad Parsons said.
