Two northern Wisconsin tribes and the state are extending their current Lake Superior fishing agreement for the time being. A 10-year agreement expired last month.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Red Cliff and Bad River bands will follow their existing agreement for lake trout harvests into next year. DNR Lake Superior fisheries supervisor Terry Margenau said negotiations on a new long-term agreement are ongoing.
“I think everybody feels it would be nice to get this done sooner rather than later,” Margenau said.
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Red Cliff tribal biologist Chad Abel said they negotiated changes to commercial fishing areas for the coming year. He said the tribe wants to examine around a dozen restricted fishing areas in Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior.
“Our negotiators want to look at each one of these one by one with the state (and) discuss the biological justification and continued need for each one,” Abel said.
Meanwhile, commercial and sport fishermen are expressing frustration with their lack of involvement in the negotiation process.
Bayfield commercial fishermen Craig Hoopman says the state commercial fishing board is sending a letter to DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp asking for a seat at the table. He said sport fishermen should likewise be included.
“I don’t believe it’s fair that these two parties are not represented, but the tribal side of it has everyone representing their parties,” said Hoopman.
Red Cliff’s Abel said they’re working with the state to hash out an agreement that works for all who use the lake, but he said he’s worried that that demands from other stakeholders might slow negotiations.
“It took a while with the current group that’s at the table to begin to make some headway,” said Abel. “Whether having other people in the room is really going to be productive or not is probably for the state to decide.”
The president of the North Wisconsin Rod and Gun Club has also requested that sportsmen be represented during state and tribal negotiations.
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