Chapter NR 25

NR 25.022(1)(b) (b) No wholesale fish dealer or producer of fish may sell, buy, barter, trade, possess, control, transport or cause to be transported any domestic lake trout unless the fish is tagged with a valid, current commercial fish tag issued or authorized by the department. The tag shall be attached through the gills and mouth of whole or dressed lake trout. Producers of fish and their crew members may not possess filleted or chunked domestic lake trout on the ice or on board a boat.

NR 25.022(1)(c) (c) All commercial fish tags issued or authorized by the department or by a governmental agency of another state or country, when severed from the lake trout are considered state property and may be claimed by the department within one year of the date they were severed.

NR 25.022(2) (2)  Filleted, portioned or smoked domestic lake trout. Lawfully possessed domestic lake trout which are intended for smoking, portioning or filleting may have the tags removed immediately prior to smoking, portioning or filleting.

NR 25.022(3) (3)  Used tags.

NR 25.022(3)(a) (a) When lawfully possessed, lake trout which were tagged with a commercial fish tag issued or authorized by the department or by a governmental agency of another state or country and imported into this state are sold at retail or to a retail outlet, the wholesale fish dealer shall remove and retain the commercial fish tags. The department may reclaim such tags within one year at the wholesale fish dealer's place of business.

NR 25.022(3)(b) (b) No person may reuse any commercial fish tag issued or authorized by the department or by a governmental agency of another state or country.

NR 25.022 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; CR 08-060: am. (title), (1) (title), (a), (2) (title) and (3) (b), r. and recr. (1) (b), r. (1) (c) to (e) and (2) (b) to (e), renum. (1) (f) and (2) (a) to be (1) (c) and (2) and am., Register June 2009 No. 642, eff. 7-1-09; CR 23-008: renum. from NR 25.16 Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11-1-23.

NR 25.025 NR 25.025 Vehicle identification requirements. As required under s. 29.503 (4) (e), Stats., no wholesale fish dealer or producer of fish may transport or cause to be transported any fish unless the transporting vehicle or boat is clearly marked on each side of the vehicle or boat with the word “FISH" in letters of block characteristic at least 4 inches high and of contrasting color with the background, and the correct business name of the wholesale fish dealer or producer of fish in letters one inch high, all in the English language.

NR 25.025 History History: CR 08-060: cr. Register June 2009 No. 642, eff. 7-1-09; CR 23-008: renum. from NR 25.19 Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11-1-23.

subch. II of ch. NR 25 Subchapter II — Commercial Fishing — Outlying Waters

NR 25.027 NR 25.027 Definitions. Except as otherwise specifically defined in the statutes, in this subchapter:

NR 25.027(1) (1) “Allouez Bay" means that body of water in Douglas county lying south of a line commencing at the most northerly point in section 29, township 49 north, range 13 west, and running due east in a straight line to the water's edge on north line of section 28, same township and range.

NR 25.027(2) (2) “Baileys Harbor" means that body of water in Door county lying north of a line commencing at the most southerly point in section 21, township 30 north, range 28 east at N45°03.303‵, W87°05.526‵, and running in a straight line westerly to the south line of section 20, same township and range at N45°03.294‵, W87°07.505‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(3) (3) “CPE” means catch-per-unit-of-effort, which is the average number of fish caught per 1,000-foot lift of gill net or per lift of trap net, and includes all dead and live fish.

NR 25.027(4) (4) “Cisco” means the fish species commonly known as lake herring or as cisco.

NR 25.027(5) (5) “Closed area" means any area designated as a refuge by rule or statute, or any area where fishing is restricted in any manner by rule.

NR 25.027(6) (6) “Closed season" means that period of the year not embraced within the open season for each species of fish therefor as provided in s. NR 25.05 (1) during which the taking of the fish species enumerated is prohibited.

NR 25.027(7) (7) “Commercial fishing" means fishing for fish regulated by this chapter with commercial gear or methods other than those commonly known as hook and line fishing or angling, the taking of smelt pursuant to s. NR 20.20, or the taking of minnows.

NR 25.027(8) (8) “Commercial fishing gear" or “commercial gear" is that equipment identified in or regulated by this chapter.

NR 25.027(9) (9) “Commercial fishing license” means, for the purposes of s. 29.503 (2) (b), Stats., those licenses issued pursuant to ss. 29.519, 29.523, 29.526, 29.529, 29.531, 29.533, and 29.535, Stats.

NR 25.027(10) (10) “Commercial ice fishing" means the setting and operating of commercial fishing gear through and from the surface of the ice.

NR 25.027(11) (11) “Detroit Harbor" means that body of water in Door county lying north of a line commencing at the most southerly point in section 14, township 33 north, range 29 east at N45°20.016‵, W86°56.451‵, and running in a straight line to the most southerly point in section 18, township 33 north, range 30 east at N45°20.054‵, W86°54.139‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(12) (12) “Diverter" means a type of commercial fishing gear inside a trawl net before the cod end, used to sort fish by size, through which all fish caught must pass and which diverts larger fish out of the net.

NR 25.027(13) (13) “Eagle Harbor" means that body of water in Door county south and east of a line drawn from the most northeast point in section 9, township 31 north, range 27 east at N45°10.496‵, W87°13.340‵, easterly to the water's edge on the north line of section 12, same township and range at N45°11.140 ‵, W87°09.679‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(14) (14) “Egg Harbor" means that body of water in Door county lying south of a line commencing at the most northeast point in section 26, township 30 north, range 26 east at N45°03.245‵, W87°18.005‵, and running in a straight line east to the north line of section 25, same township and range at N45°03.265 ‵, W87°16.938‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(15) (15) “Electronic communication device" means a device with access to the internet or local networks capable of storing or replicating data on a hard drive, transmitting data over a network, displaying data on a screen, and recording data via an input apparatus.

NR 25.027(16) (16) “Electronic fish reporting system" means a system established or authorized by the department for reporting daily commercial fishing activity and other required information to the department by electronic means.

NR 25.027(17) (17) “Encircling nets" means purse seines as defined in sub. (52), and seines as described in s. 29.522 (3), Stats.

NR 25.027(18) (18) “End of the day" means 11:59 p.m. of the day the fish are landed.

NR 25.027(19) (19) “Entrapping nets" means trap nets as defined in sub. (48), and entrapping nets as described in s. 29.522 (1), Stats.

NR 25.027(20) (20) “Fish Creek" means that body of water in Door county lying south and east of a line commencing at the most northerly point in the southwest quarter of section 29, township 31 north, range 27 east at N45°07.925‵, W87°14.926‵, and running northeasterly in a straight line to the water's edge on the north line of that section, township and range at N45°08.480 ‵, W87°14.505‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(21) (21) “Fleet reporting program" means a program of catch assignment and reporting under s. NR 25.135.

NR 25.027(22) (22) “Float plan" means a description of the day's proposed commercial fishing activity that includes the commercial fisher's name, commercial fishing license number or fleet reporting number, date and intended time of leaving the pier or shore for commercial fishing activity, targeted species, port of departure, intended port of return, intended time of return, and the type of commercial fishing gear involved.

NR 25.027(23) (23) “Harvest limit", “harvest quota", “total allowable annual commercial harvest", or “the total allowable commercial harvest" means the total number of pounds of fish as established in this chapter which may be landed in a license year from the outlying waters or any portion thereof, except as otherwise prescribed in this chapter.

NR 25.027(24) (24) “ High value species" means whitefish when a commercial fisher's whitefish individual catch quota in any zone is less than 13,656 pounds and yellow perch.

NR 25.027(25) (25)  “Home use fisher” means an enrolled tribal member of either the Bad River or Red Cliff band of Chippewa Indians exercising off-reservation fishing rights in Lake Superior recognized by State v. Gurnoe, 53 Wis. 2d 390 (1972), who takes fish for non-commercial disposition, including consumption by the member or member's family or donation for charitable purposes.

NR 25.027(26) (26) “Immediate family" means the spouse, children by birth or adoption, parents or siblings.

NR 25.027(27) (27) “Incapacity" means the inability to communicate in any manner, hospitalization with a terminal illness or terminal injuries as certified by a licensed physician, or an adjudication of incompetency as defined in s. 54.10 (3), Stats.

NR 25.027(28) (28) “Jackson Harbor" means that body of water in Door county lying south and west of a line commencing at the most northerly point in section 27, township 34 north, range 30 east at N45°24.061‵, W86°50.876‵, and running in a straight line northwesterly to the most easterly point in the northeast quarter of section 28, same township and range at N45°24.226 ‵, W86°51.141‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(29) (29) “Licensed commercial fisher" means a person currently licensed under s. 29.519 (1m) (a), Stats.

NR 25.027(30) (30) “Little Sturgeon Bay" means that body of water in Door county lying south of a line commencing at the most northeast point in section 35, township 28 north, range 24 east at N44°51.098‵, W87°33.022‵, and running in a northeasterly direction to the most northerly point in section 36, same township and range at N44°51.486‵, W87°31.900‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(31) (31) “Lost net" means a commercial fishing net that cannot be located by the commercial fisher within 24 hours after the net was required to be lifted or a commercial fishing net that is missing or was stolen, regardless of the net's last known location.

NR 25.027(32) (32) “Moonlight Bay" means that body of water in Door county lying north and west of a line commencing at the most northeast point in section 15, township 30 north, range 28 east at N45°04.403‵, W87°04.823‵, and running in a straight line northeasterly to the most southerly point in section 14, same township and range at N45°04.706‵, W87 °03.909‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(33) (33) “Non-work days" for a commercial fisher licensed under s. 29.519 (1m), Stats., means Sundays, January 1 (New Year's Day), third Monday in January (Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday), Good Friday, last Monday in May (Memorial Day), July 4th (Independence Day), first Monday in September (Labor Day), fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day), December 24th (Christmas Eve), December 25th (Christmas Day) and December 31st (New Year's Eve).

NR 25.027(34) (34) “North Bay" means that body of water in Door county lying north of a line commencing at the most northeast point in section 35, township 31 north, range 28 east at N45°07.492‵, W87°03.455‵, and running in a straight line to the west line of section 25, same township and range at N45°08.200 ‵, W87°03.017‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(35) (35) “Northern and southern Green Bay line" means that line described as a line in Green Bay drawn from the most northerly point of Friedmann's point at Fish creek at N45°07.925‵, W87°14.926‵, located in the southwest quarter of section 29, township 31 north, range 27 east, Door county; thence northwesterly to the most southeasterly point of Chambers island at N45°09.505‵, W87°19.714‵; thence along the southwest shoreline to the most southwesterly point of Chambers island at N45°10.680‵, W87°22.608‵; thence due west to the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary line at N45°10.680‵, W87°24.775‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(36) (36) “Northern chub fishing zone" means those waters of Lake Michigan lying north of a line extending from the mid-channel marker buoy of Baileys Harbor on a 135º bearing, and east of a line from the point where the line extending on a 135º bearing from the mid-channel marker buoy of Baileys Harbor intersects the 35 fathom contour, to the easternmost point of Rock Island at N45°24.454‵, W86°48.313‵, then following the northeast shore of Rock Island to the northernmost point of Rock Island at N45°25.709‵, W86°49.691‵, then proceeding north to the Wisconsin-Michigan state line at N45°26.648‵, W86°49.691‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(37) (37) “Northern Green Bay" means those waters of Green Bay lying north of the northern and southern Green Bay line.

NR 25.027(38) (38) “Northern Green Bay-Lake Michigan line" means that line commencing at the northwest side of the Northport dock where it joins the shoreline in section 29, township 33 north, range 29 east at N45°17.443‵, W86 °58.647‵; thence in a northeasterly direction to the range light (signal light) on Plum island at N45°18.225‵, W86°57.298‵; thence along the north and west shore of Plum island to the U.S. coast guard station at N45°18.782‵, W86°56.877‵; thence northerly to the southwesterly point of Shellswick dock at N45°20.016‵, W86°56.451‵, which is located on Lodbell's point on Washington island; thence along this dock to the shoreline of Lodbell's point; thence along the west shore of Washington island to Boyer's Bluff light at N45°25.211‵, W86°56.189‵; thence due north to the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary line at N45°26.648‵, W86°56.362‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(39) (39) “Riley's Bay" means that body of water in Door county lying south of a line commencing at the most northerly point in section 36, township 28 north, range 24 east at N44°51.486‵, W87°31.900‵, and running in a northeasterly direction to the most northerly point in section 30, township 28 north, range 25 east at N44°52.369‵, W87°31.007‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(40) (40) “Rowley's Bay" means that body of water in Door county lying north of a line commencing at the water's edge on south line of section 25, township 32 north, range 28 east at N45°12.535‵, W87°01.954‵ and running southeasterly to the most southerly point in section 32, township 32 north, range 29 east at N45°12.695‵, W87°00.158‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(41) (41) “Southern chub fishing zone" means those waters of Lake Michigan lying south of a line extending east from the entrance of Kewaunee harbor at N44°27.459‵, W87°29.522‵ to its intersection with the 45 fathom (270 feet) depth contour, then proceeding northerly along the 45 fathom depth contour to its intersection with a line extending east from the entrance of Algoma harbor at N44°36.397‵, W87 °25.792‵, then proceeding east along a line from the entrance of Algoma harbor at N44°36.397‵, W87°25.792‵ to its intersection with the Wisconsin-Michigan state line at N44°36.397‵, W86 °48.390‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(42) (42) “Southern Green Bay" means those waters of Green Bay lying south of the northern and southern Green Bay line, including the Fox river as far as the dam at DePere, and westerly of the Southern Green Bay — Lake Michigan line.

NR 25.027(43) (43) “Southern Green Bay — Lake Michigan line" means that line commencing at a point on the southwest shore of the Sturgeon Bay ship canal directly beneath the center of the Wisconsin public service company power line and extending in a northeasterly direction directly beneath and parallel to the center of the power line to a point on the northeast shore of the ship canal, all located in NE1/4 NW1/4, section 22, township 27 north, range 26 east, Door county.

NR 25.027(44) (44) “St. Louis Bay" means that body of water in Douglas county lying between a line commencing at the most northerly point of section 10, township 49 north, range 14 west, running due north to the Minnesota boundary, and the north line of sections 20 and 21, running due west to the Minnesota boundary.

NR 25.027(45) (45) “Standard fish box" means any container with outer dimensions no greater than 18 inches in width, 32 inches in length and 12 inches in depth used or designed for holding fish.

NR 25.027(46) (46) “Sturgeon Bay" means that body of water in Door county lying south and east of a line commencing at the most northerly point of section 23, township 28 north, range 25 east at N44°53.582‵, W87°26.043‵, and running in a northeasterly direction to the water's edge on north line of section 13, same township and range at N44°54.451‵, W87 °24.390‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(47) (47) “Superior Bay" means that body of water in Douglas county lying south and east between Minnesota point and the main land of Douglas county extending from a line drawn from the most southerly point in section 20, township 49 north, range 13 west, to the most northerly point in section 29, same township and range.

NR 25.027(48) (48) “Trap net" means a device constructed of netting, which may employ wings or wings and leads, directing the movement of fish through a tunnel of netting into inner hearts or built-in forebays wherein they are trapped by their own movement. Such nets may be referred to as shallow trap nets, submarine trap nets or deep water trap nets but shall not include drop nets or fyke nets.

NR 25.027(49) (49) “Trawl” means a large conical bag of netting to which are often attached wings of netting, which is towed in the water and weighted such that its sweep line maintains contact with the bottom throughout the drag, and captures fish by scooping rather than encircling them. The mouth of the bag is normally kept open laterally by 2 large boards, one on each side so rigged that they serve to spread the entire net, and these boards are secured to towing lines running to the vessel or vessels engaged in towing the net through the water.

NR 25.027(50) (50) “Treaty fisher" means an enrolled tribal member of either the Bad River or Red Cliff bands of Chippewa Indians exercising off-reservation commercial fishing rights in Lake Superior recognized by State v. Gurnoe, 53 Wis. 2d 390 (1972).

NR 25.027(51) (51) “Washington Harbor" means that body of water in Door county lying south of a line commencing at the water's edge on the north line of section 25, township 34 north, range 29 east at N45°24.344‵, W86°55.714‵, and running in a straight line easterly to the water's edge on the north line of section 25, same township and range at N45°24.357‵, W86 °55.014‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(52) (52) “West Harbor" means that body of water in Door county and adjoining water in sections 2, 10 and 11, township 33 north, range 29 east, lying east of a line starting at the most northwesterly point of land in section 10 of township 33 north, range 29 east at N45°21.511‵, W86°57.224‵, and running in a northerly direction to the most northwesterly point of land in section 2, township 33 north, range 29 east at N45°22.453‵, W86°57.077‵.

NR 25.027 Note Note: All latitude and longitude coordinates are expressed in degrees and minutes.

NR 25.027(53) (53) “ WI-1” and “WI-2” mean Wisconsin Statistical Districts l and 2 as defined in the Lake Trout Management Plan of the Lake Superior Technical Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. The line between the districts extends due north from the northernmost tip of Bark Point at N46° 53.21‵, W91°11.16‵ with WI-1 waters to the west and WI-2 waters east to the Michigan border.

NR 25.027(54) (54) “Zone 1" means all waters in southern Green Bay.

NR 25.027(55) (55) “Zone 2" means all waters in northern Green Bay and all Lake Michigan waters north of a line running due east from the eastern shore of Door county along 44° 40‵ north latitude to the Wisconsin-Michigan state boundary at N44°40.000 ‵, W86°46.820‵.

NR 25.027(56) (56) “Zone 3" means all waters of Lake Michigan south of a line running due east from the eastern shore of Door county along 44º 40‵ north latitude to the Wisconsin-Michigan state boundary at N44°40.000‵, W86°46.820‵.

NR 25.027 History History: CR 23-008: cr. (title), (intro.), renum. (1) to (24) from NR 25.02 (1), (2), (2m), (3m), (4), (5), (8), (9), (9m), (10), (13), (14), (17) to (22), (27), (29), (30), (32), (33) and, as renumbered, am. (3), (8), (24), cr. (25), renum. (26) to (55) from NR 25.02 (35), (37), (38), (40) to (49), (54), (55), (57) to (61), (63) to (72) Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11-1-23; correction in (19) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2023 No. 814.

NR 25.03 NR 25.03  Commercial fishing licenses.

NR 25.03(1) (1)  Lake Superior.

NR 25.03(1)(a) (a)