Titus Seilheimer, Fisheries Specialist with Wisconsin Sea Grant, briefly talks about the commercial fishing industry:
European settlers began fishing on the Great Lakes commercially in the 1820s. By the early 1900s, overfishing was a concern. When invasive sea lamprey arrived in the upper Great Lakes in the mid 1930s, several important species, such as lake trout and yellow perch, almost vanished from Wisconsin waters. Since then, fisheries mangers in the U.S., Canada and Native American sovereign nations have collaborated to determine which species and how many fish can be harvested.
State and tribal regulations ensure that fish are harvested sustainably from the Great Lakes. Organizations, like the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, help coordinate discussions between the seven states, the many tribes and two countries to work together to manage the Great Lakes fish populations. State-licensed commercial fishing licenses are limited (10 licenses in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior and 49 licenses in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan). There is also tribal commercial and subsistence fishing in Wisconsin’s Lake Superior waters. The Bad River and Red Cliff Tribes of Lake Superior Chippewa license about 10 large boats and about 20 small boats for commercial fishing. There is currently no tribal commercial harvest from the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan.
The allowable number of fish harvested is determined by regular scientific sampling. The annual harvest is then divided up among commercial fishing licenses into quotas. Thus each commercial fisher has a guaranteed percentage of the total allowable annual harvest and doesn’t have to compete with others. Additional regulations regarding types of gear used and fishing locations ensure minimal catch of non-targeted fish species and protect sensitive habitat.
Gill nets and trap nets are the primary ways fish are commercially harvested in the Great Lakes. The gill net was one of the first pieces of commercial fishing equipment introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1800s because it could be used from small fishing boats with little investment. Deep water trap nets were introduced in the 1920s and can be more efficient at targeting specific species of fish and make it easier to return non-targeted fish to the water. Both types of nets are set in place by fishermen and retrieved on another day.
You can safely eat wild Great Lakes fish by following state recommendations. State scientists regularly test fish and issue annual guidelines so consumers can make informed decisions about their diets. Visit the Wisconsin DNR website for the most recent guidelines as these vary by body of water and fish size. The site also shares information about contaminants.
