WI new w/e manage options

[Lee Borgersen]

                     Wisconsin broadens walleye management options

 Jan 28, 2015 .











Wisconsin's Natural Resources board on Wednesday approved a "scope statement" that will allow Department of Natural Resources fisheries officials to consider alternatives to reductions in walleye bag limits in the Wisconsin ceded territory.

 


The new policy allows the department the option of using management tools such as length limits or season limits in addition to reduced bag limits for managing angler harvest of walleyes in the ceded territory, where six Wisconsin Chippewa bands exercise their rights to fish, hunt and gather on public lands, as provided by treaties negotiated with the United States in 1837 and 1842.

In past years, the DNR could use only bag limits to manage walleye harvest on lakes in the ceded territory.

"We appreciate the support of the Natural Resources Board in approving this additional flexibility and we look forward to continued collaboration with the Chippewa tribes and our partners and stakeholders throughout northern Wisconsin to craft rules based on sound science and fisheries management experience," said Steve Hewett, DNR fisheries management section chief.