Statement of Scope
Department of Natural Resources
Relating to: | Commercial Fisheries of Lake Whitefish in Lake Michigan, NR 25 |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
The rule will be proposed as a permanent rule.
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
Lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, is widely distributed in North American fresh waters from the Atlantic coast westward across Canada and the northern United States. The whitefish is one of the most valuable commercial species throughout the Great Lakes. Known Wisconsin lake whitefish “stocks” (localized groups or populations that spawn and live in certain areas) within Lake Michigan and Green Bay include a spawning stock in the North/Moonlight Bays area off of eastern Door County and a newly developing stock from west shore Green Bay tributaries. During much of the year, some Lake Michigan whitefish stocks are highly mobile and Wisconsin fishers may also harvest fish from some of the Michigan stocks of lake whitefish, most notably the Big Bay DeNoc stock. Although the lake-wide population began increasing in the mid-1990s, some Lake Michigan lake whitefish stocks have declined over the past few years. Recent surveys to assess spawning fish near eastern Door County have shown low abundance of younger lake whitefish entering the population, indicating potential problems with recruitment of lake whitefish from the North/Moonlight Bays spawning stock and a resulting population decline.
The current lake whitefish commercial harvest limit in Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan is 2.88 million pounds of dressed whitefish per year, which was approved in 2010 (an increase from the prior limit). This rule would adjust the total commercial harvest of lake whitefish in Lake Michigan to protect certain stocks from overharvest and ensure the long-term sustainablility of the fishery. This rule may make adjustments to commercial gear, effort, or season length for a specific location or the entire whitefish fishery as an alternative to or in addition to adusting the total allowable commercial harvest of lake whitefish.
This rule may also adjust the lake whitefish commercial fishing zone boundaries, the formulas used to determine zone specific harvest, or both to better reflect the current whitefish distribution and abundance within the lake. Whitefish distribution patterns have changed since 1989, the year the zone quota system was inititated. Changes to the zone boundaries, zone allocation scheme, or both may allow commercial fishers to better utilize lake whitefish that are available from new spawning stocks from the west shore Green Bay tributaries. Additionally, the declining North/Moonlight Bays spawning stock will be better protected. Additional rule changes may be pursued that are reasonably related to those discussed in this scope statement.
Modification of zone boundaries or allocations would involve modification of commercial fishers’ fishing practices and quotas. Advice will be sought from the Lake Michigan Commercial Fishing Board (LMCFB) regarding these proposed rule changes. The LMCFB is directed by s. 29.519(7), Stats., to “recommend to the department species harvest limits and formulas for the allotment of individual licensee catch quotas when the department establishes species harvest limits for allocation among licensees.” 3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
Currently, commercial harvest of lake whitefish is managed with zone-specific harvest limits in three commercial fishing zones:
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Lake whitefish commercial harvest limits | Pounds per year |
Zone 1 – Southern Green Bay | 362,185 |
Zone 2 – Northern Green Bay and Northern Lake Michigan | 2,166,329 |
Zone 3 – Southern Lake Michigan | 351,487 |
Total Allowable Harvest Limit | 2,880,000 |
The zone allocation structure is largely based on historical fishing effort and catch. From 2010 to 2013, Zone 1 & 3 harvest has been near the allowable harvest limit with some individual quota holders catching their complete individual quotas. However, Zone 2 harvest has been less than half the allowable harvest limit.
Historically many of the lake whitefish captured in Wisconsin waters were from the North/Moonlight Bays spawning stock. However, in recent years the west shore Green Bay tributaries, particularly the Menominee River, appear to be producing a large number of lake whitefish. Overall the distribution of lake whitefish has changed with many more fish present in southern Green Bay relative to northern Green Bay and Lake Michigan than in the past. Lake-wide, many lake whitefish populations are declining and in particular the North/Moonlight Bays spawning population is showing recruitment problems. In contrast, Green Bay spawning populations do not appear to be declining as substantially or may be maintaining population abundance.
These rule changes will produce two main benefits:
1) Overall lake whitefish populations will be better protected and specifically the North/Moonlight Bays stock will be better protected.
2) Commercial fishers will be better able to harvest lake whitefish from west shore Green Bay stocks and more fully utlize the resource resulting in increased economic value of the fishery.
4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Section 29.014(1), Stats., directs the Department to establish and maintain any bag limits and conditions governing the taking of fish that will conserve the fish supply and ensure the citizens of this state continued opportunities for good fishing.
