Fishery Biologists Scott Koproski and Adam Kowalski recently finished repairing bottom set gill nets fished during the 2006 fishery independent lake whitefish survey in 1836 Treaty waters.  

More than 10,000 feet of gill nets were mended or slugged by Koproski and Kowalski.  Mesh size ranged from 2.0” to 6.0” and increased in ½” increments.  A gang of gill nets fished in the survey consists of three 900’ boxes of net for a total effort of 2700’.  Two to three gangs of gill nets were fished daily during the duration of this project. 

The data collected from this survey is used in the catch at age models for 1836 Treaty water.  Alpena FRO is responsible for collecting data from Lake Huron Whitefish Management Units (LHM) 4 and 5.  Catch at age models are used to calculate harvest limits in 1836 Treaty waters for tribal commercial, state commercial, and state recreational fisheries.  Allocation of harvest within each management unit is defined within the Consent Decree signed in 2000 by the State of Michigan, five 1836 Treaty tribes, and the Federal government.