Skip to main content

Lake Superior fisheries management plan

Fishing Wisconsin

Anglers, commercial fishers and fish enthusiasts helped us develop a fisheries management plan for Lake Superior.

The Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan was approved by the Natural Resources Board on May 27, 2020 and implementation has begun. The Plan guides management of sport and commercial fisheries management in Wisconsin's Lake Superior waters for the next ten years (2020-2029). The goals and objectives established in the Plan will guide practical management of Wisconsin's Lake Superior fisheries to benefit the state's citizens within the productive capacity of the resources. The public participated extensively in the making of the Plan to ensure that the Plan would reflect a balanced approach to the type of management desired by all stakeholders for Lake Superior and its tributaries. 

The Plan consists of five primary goals, each of which was developed with input from the Lake Superior Advisory Panel. The objectives and tactics discussed in the Plan will guide the department in meeting the goals and the overall desired future conditions.

 

Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan, 2020-2029 [PDF]

 

Below is a summary of the process that was used to develop the Plan:

We want your input

Based on our initial stakeholder meeting held on June 26, 2017, those present decided that forming an advisory panel to work with the Department in developing the next Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan was the best option. Meetings convened to work on the plan are detailed below along with a draft outline and finally a draft plan. Meetings with the advisory panel include the agenda, minutes and additional information presented at each meeting

Draft Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan

The department held two meetings to continue to work with stakeholders on the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan. The fisheries management plan takes a broad look at the fisheries and fish communities of Lake Superior and establishes objectives for future management. The management plan incorporated input from diverse stakeholders including representatives from sport, commercial, and tribal fisheries, conservation groups, academia, tourism, and land and water conservation. The Department believes the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan reasonably addresses the needs of all parties and benefits all fish stocks. Its framework allows the Department to implement existing effective management strategies and to direct future adaptive management strategies for Lake Superior.

Draft Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan [PDF]

 

Comments will be accepted on the Plan through October 20, 2019. You can provide comments via a variety of methods.

1) Provide written comments on the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan via email: DNR Lake Superior Plan

2) Provide written comments via a letter send to:

Bradley Ray
Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 589
Bayfield, WI 54814

Lake Superior Fisheries Plan Outline

We really appreciate all the great information you’ve shared with us over the past few months. We worked together to try and synthesize all your comments into an outline of the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan. Please review our draft. While we welcome comments of all varieties, several specific things we hope you will offer feedback on include: the structure of the current outline, areas where the views of the group you represent may conflict with the current outline, and additional information within each subheading that will inform the content in the text. Please remember this is just the outline, the actual draft management plan will lay out the specifics of each goal, objective, and tactic. This is why your comments are so important to make sure the views of each group are accurately represented.

The comment period will last until July 20, 2018. Please make sure to share the outline with your group during this time and gather comments. After we incorporate your comments into a draft plan we will hold a series of public meetings to present the draft plan to the public and solicit comments.

Lake Superior Fisheries Plan Outline [PDF]

March 5, 2018 Advisory Panel Meeting

We are meeting Monday, March 5, 2018, at 6:00 pm at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-Ashland Campus. At this meeting, we will have a presentation from the Wisconsin DNR Sturgeon Team about the Statewide Sturgeon Management Plan and work towards objectives and tactics for the fourth and fifth draft goals. We decided that the last goal should be broken down into two goals rather than a single goal.

  1. Develop, evaluate, and implement strategies to maximize the resilience of Lake Superior fisheries through the control, manage, or mitigate future threats
  2. Develop, evaluate, and implement strategies to improve the social value of Lake Superior.

Meeting Notes [PDF]
Presentation [PDF]

February 6, 2018 Advisory Panel Meeting

This meeting was held at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-Ashland Campus. At this meeting, we continued to work towards objectives and tactics for the second and third draft goals.

Meeting Notes [PDF]
Presentation [PDF]

January 11, 2018 Advisory Panel Meeting - THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

We are meeting Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 6:00 pm at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-Ashland Campus. At this meeting we hope to continue work towards objectives and tactics for the second and third draft goals:

  1. Work with stakeholders to identify and implement strategies that protect, support, and enhance the diversity, sustainability, and viability of state and tribal sport, commercial, and subsistence fishing.
  2. Enhanced science and monitoring to better understand the ecology of Lake Superior fish populations and communities.

We will also take a few minutes to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and set plans for the next meetings. The next meeting dates are also set for:
Feb 6, 2018
Mar 5, 2018

December 18, 2017 Advisory Panel Meeting

At this meeting we worked towards objectives and tactics for the second (and third) draft goals:

  1. Work with stakeholders to identify and implement strategies that protect, support, and enhance the diversity, sustainability, and viability of state and tribal sport, commercial, and subsistence fishing.
  2. Enhanced science and monitoring to better understand the ecology of Lake Superior fish populations and communities.

Meeting Notes [PDF]
Presentation [PDF]
Lake Trout hooking mortality study [PDF]
Splake spawning habitats [PDF]

The next meeting dates are also set for:

Jan 11, 2018
Feb 6, 2018
Mar 5, 2018

November 2017 Advisory Panel Meeting

This meeting was held at 6:00 pm at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College - Ashland Campus. We worked towards objectives and tactics for the first two draft goals:

  1. Protect and enhance diversity and connectivity of habitats through best management practices and comprehensive land use planning that maximize aquatic habitat potential.
  2. Work with stakeholders to identify and implement strategies that protect, support, and enhance the diversity, sustainability, and viability of state and tribal sport, commercial, and subsistence fishing.

Meeting Notes [PDF]
Presentation [PDF]

Decision support for Barrier/Dam Modifications [PDF]

October 16, 2017 Advisory Panel Meeting

This second meeting of the Advisory panel will focus on the Vision and goals of the new Lake Superior Fish Management Plan. The meeting is at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College - Ashland Campus.

Agenda [PDF]
Meeting Notes [PDF]

September 7, 2017 Initial Advisory Panel Meeting

This meeting focused on the overall vision of the management plan which is to help us achieve future desired conditions for Wisconsin Waters of Lake Superior based on stakeholder preferences and past and current conditions of Lake Superior.

Agenda [PDF]
Meeting Notes [PDF]
Presentation [PDF]
Lake Superior Lakewide Action and Management Plan 2015 - 2019 [PDF]
Lake Superior Action Plan 2017 - 2019 [PDF]
The State of Lake Superior in 2011 [PDF]

June 26, 2017 Initial Stakeholder meeting

Our work with you and partners to manage Wisconsin's Lake Superior fishery has been guided by a 10-year plan that needs revision. This meeting sought input as we plan on developing a new plan for the next 10 years (2019-2028). We gathered initial input into the direction that we should take on managing Lake Superior fisheries into the future.

Agenda [PDF]
Presentation [PDF]
Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan 1988 - 1998 [PDF]

Contact information

To provide comments on the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan, send an email to DNR Lake Superior Plan

OR to provide written comments, send a letter to:

Bradley Ray
Department of Natural Resources
141 South Third Street
Bayfield, WI 54814