Frank Stone has started his first week of a five week project assisting the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in determining recruitment levels of juvenal walleye.  The objectives of these surveys are to estimate relative abundance of young-of-the-year walleye in several lakes of northern Wisconsin and Michigan.  The data from these surveys will be used in conjunction with spring population estimates, to set walleye safe harvest levels for the 2009 tribal spearing season.  During the length of the project, Frank will have conducted a total of 19 fishery surveys.

These sampling efforts take place at night, when walleye activity is the highest and catch efficiency is maximized.  Using a boat electrofishing system, fish collection is relatively fast and efficient.  Both length data and scale samples are collected.  These data reflect the lakes current walleye recruitment values.

Conserving this Nation’s fish and other aquatic resources cannot be successful without the partnership of Tribes; they manage or influence some of the most important aquatic habitats both on and off reservations.  In addition, the Federal government and the Service have distinct and unique obligations toward Tribes based on trust responsibility, treaty provisions, and statutory mandates.  The Ashland NFWCO fisheries program plays an important role in providing help and support to Tribes as they exercise their sovereignty in the management of their fish and wildlife resources on Federal Indian trust land and in treaty reserved areas.