This rule updates the total allowable commercial harvest of lake whitefish for all three zones of Lake Michigan. Updates are necessary to respond to the changing distribution and population dynamics of lake whitefish, as revealed through recent lake whitefish population modeling in Lake Michigan, including Green Bay. If the lake whitefish population is not managed appropriately, the sustainability of the shared commercial and recreational whitefish fishery may be compromised. The rule also implements provisions to minimize the incidental catch of bycatch in whitefish netting operations. Minimizing bycatch is important because Lake Michigan also supports a sport fishery, with lake trout as a key species in Lake Michigan proper and walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, smallmouth bass and muskellunge occupying Green Bay. This rule also requires use of the Electronic Fish Harvest Reporting System (EFHRS) for all Great Lakes commercial fishers, which provides quicker, more accurate access to harvest data than biweekly paper reporting. Electronic reporting has been a priority for managing commercial fisheries for many years, but to date, only a subset of fishers has opted to utilize the electronic reporting system.
SECTION 1 includes a statement that the total allowable commercial harvest (TAC) will be based on department recommendations and results from the Green Bay and Lake Michigan whitefish population models. Previously, a single model was used to inform the total allowable commercial harvest, which was not reflective of the distinct Green Bay and Lake Michigan stocks that have emerged in recent years.
SECTION 2 describes the quantitative population model inputs that will be used to calculate the department’s total allowable commercial harvest (TAC) recommendations for lake whitefish in Green Bay and Lake Michigan, which will serve as a foundation for the final total allowable commercial harvest limits and the allotments to the three whitefish commercial fishing zones.
To determine the proposed TAC recommendations, the department utilized two whitefish population models: one for Green Bay (consisting of Zone 1 in its entirety and part of Zone 2) and one for Lake Michigan (consisting of part of Zone 2 and Zone 3 in its entirety). These models indicated that the Green Bay population could sustain additional harvest, while the Lake Michigan population was not producing sufficient whitefish to warrant the current TAC of 2.88 million pounds for Green Bay and Lake Michigan combined. For Green Bay, the TAC resulting from the population model is 1,176,889 pounds per license year, which will allow for an increase in the Zone 1 allowable harvest to 800,000 pounds. The remainder of the Green Bay TAC, 376,889 pounds, can be harvested in Zone 2. The TAC of 1,176,889 pounds represents 50% of the commercial safe harvest limit derived from the Green Bay population model, with the other 50% being allocated to the whitefish sport fishery. For Lake Michigan, the TAC resulting from the population model is 800,407 pounds per license year. With 351,487 pounds allocated to Zone 3, this leaves the remainder of the Lake Michigan TAC, 448,920 pounds, which can be harvested in Zone 2. The TAC of 800,407 pounds represents 100% of the commercial safe harvest limit derived from the Lake Michigan population model. At this time, no portion of the Lake Michigan TAC is allocated to the sport fishery in Lake Michigan because the whitefish sport fishery is very small in Lake Michigan. If a substantial whitefish sport fishery develops in the coming years, an appropriate portion of this TAC will be allocated to sport anglers.
Under previous rules, the department increased the total allowable commercial harvest for all zones combined to reach the current level of 2.88 million pounds, with the additional poundage from the increase allocated equally between all three zones, and the department also codified the future zone-specific harvest limit plan for situations in which a TAC for Lake Michigan and Green Bay beyond 2.88 million pounds was recommended. However, because the overall total allowable commercial harvest for all zones is now based on the two whitefish population models rather than one model for the entirety of Lake Michigan, including Green Bay, the components of the previous total allowable commercial harvest that applied to all three zones overall are no longer relevant.
SECTIONS 3 and 4 provide the framework for determining the amount of whitefish that may be harvested in zones 1, 2 and 3 of Green Bay and Lake Michigan when the TACs are adjusted in current and future years, with caps on whitefish poundage in Zone 1 (67.9758% of the Green Bay TAC or 800,000 pounds, whichever is less) and Zone 3 (43.9135% of the Lake Michigan TAC or 351,487 pounds, whichever is less) and the remainder of the TACs from the Green Bay and Lake Michigan models going to the Zone 2 allowable harvest. To allow commercial fishers more flexibility in managing their business operations, additional poundage beyond the levels from the population models may be allotted to Zone 2. Overall harvest for Zone 2 would remain limited to the levels of the TACs by the method in SECTION 5; however, the additional Zone 2 poundage would allow individual commercial fishers to make greater use of their existing individual catch quotas until the Zone 2 harvest cap is reached. When the recommended allotment for Zone 2 exceeds the level resulting from the population models, the excess amount is allocated to the Green Bay and Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2 under the same proportions as how the poundage for Zone 2 is allocated under the Green Bay and Lake Michigan population models (as outlined in SECTION 2 above). So, about 45.6% of the additional poundage would be allocated to the Green Bay waters of Zone 2 and added to the poundage for Green Bay waters of Zone 2 originating from the population model, and about 54.4% of the additional poundage would be allocated to the Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2 and added to poundage for Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2 originating from the population model.
SECTION 5 establishes a harvest cap system for whitefish harvest in Zone 2 waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan to allow commercial fishers flexibility in utilizing their individual catch quotas while ensuring a sustainable fishery. Commercial fishing licensees with individual licensee catch quota allocations in Zone 2 may fish in both the Green Bay and Lake Michigan portions of Zone 2 until the Zone 2 portion of each TAC (Green Bay or Lake Michigan TAC minus the Zone 1 or Zone 3 portion of the TAC, respectively), is reached, whereby the department would close Zone 2 waters of Lake Michigan, Green Bay or both to additional harvest to prevent exceeding the TACs for Green Bay and Lake Michigan.
SECTION 6 requires licensees fishing for whitefish in Lake Michigan and Green Bay, or members of their crew, to notify the department of the location of trap nets upon setting or moving the net and the name of the trap net. Some commercial fishers in Green Bay and Lake Superior already do this. The exact locations of trap nets are needed to help reduce user conflicts as well as for fisheries management purposes. Under this rule, commercial fishers in Green Bay and Lake Michigan would name each net and record each lifted net into the electronic fish harvest reporting system (EFHRS).
SECTIONS 7 and 8 create a restricted area for trap nets set for whitefish in southern Green Bay, an area popular among sport fishers. Consistent with requirements for existing restricted areas, commercial fishers would have to obtain a permit from the department to set trap nets in this area. This restricted area will also help mitigate bycatch of both illegal lake whitefish (less than 17” minimum length) and non-target sport fish caught in trap nets. SECTION 7 also clarifies that licensees must provide complete information on the application form when applying for a restricted area permit.
SECTION 9 replaces the paper harvest reporting requirements for Great Lakes commercial fishers with a requirement to report electronically. Currently, state-licensed commercial fishers may voluntarily elect to use electronic harvest reporting in lieu of paper reporting. Electronic harvest reporting will be mandatory for all Lake Michigan, Green Bay and Lake Superior state commercial fishers under this rule. Pursuant to NR 25.01 (3), this rule will also apply to tribal commercial fishers if the Lake Superior Fishing Agreement or an equivalent agreement is no longer in effect. Currently, tribal commercial fishers are required to report harvest to the appropriate tribe in accordance with provisions of the Agreement.
SECTION 10 requires electronic harvest reporting for all commercial fishing licensees operating in Green Bay, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, regardless of species fished. Electronic harvest reporting is much quicker and more accurate than biweekly paper reporting, which allows the department to better track harvest of commercial fish and bycatch levels.
SECTION 11 describes the method by which commercial fishers will report their daily catch, and provides that commercial fishers would have the option to first record the required reporting information on a paper form before entering it into the electronic fish harvest reporting system by 11:59 p.m. that same day.
SECTION 12 removes the requirement for licensees to notify the department when they are unable to access EFHRS and will be recording their information on a paper report, requires licensees to record their information on the paper form after completing the last net lift of the day and before starting for shore when they are unable to access EFHRS, and specifies that licensees will be required to submit the information from any paper reports to EFHRS once they are again able to access EFHRS. Since electronic reports will be required rather than elective and the paper backup system will ensure proper record-keeping in a timely manner, the department will be able to follow up appropriately with licensees without the notification requirement when the licensee is unable to access EFHRS.
SECTION 13 repeals the note explaining how the department will provide the designated phone number and email address to licensees with which to notify the department when they are unable to access EFHRS. This note is no longer needed since licensees will no longer be required to notify the department when they are unable to access EFHRS.
SECTION 14 modifies the note language relating to paper report forms, which will no longer be submitted biweekly but may be temporarily utilized to record catch information when a licensee is unable to access EFHRS.
SECTION 15 describes how licensees will notify the department through EFHRS rather than a phone call or email to the department when they are unable to weigh their landed catch by the end of the day.
SECTION 16 removes duplicative language that is already established elsewhere in s. NR 25.13 (2), Wis. Admin. Code and through this rule, and requires whitefish fishers in Lake Michigan and Green Bay to report the name of lifted trap nets into EFHRS each day that they are lifted to check for fish, but not moved to a new location. SECTION 17 removes references to s. NR 25.13 (1), Wis. Admin. Code, which is no longer an option for commercial fishers under this rule. 6. Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations:
No federal statutes or regulations apply. States possess inherent authority to manage the fishery and wildlife resources located within their boundaries, except insofar as preempted by federal treaties and laws, including regulations established in the Federal Register.
7. If Held, Summary of Comments Received During Preliminary Comment Period
and at Public Hearing on the Statement of Scope:
On June 11, 2020, the department held a preliminary public hearing on the Statement of Scope for FH-02-20. Sixteen members of the public attended the virtual hearing either by computer or phone. Of the comments received at the hearing and in writing during the comment period, two people registered in support of the scope statement, 14 in opposition and 4 did not state a position. Some of the comments in opposition to the scope statement related to specific rule proposals that had not yet been discussed. Comments included a desire for a sport fishing advisory team for this rule to advise the department on behalf of sport fishers (which the department subsequently organized), that the scope statement is needed to create a rule to address whitefish and the healthy populations in Green Bay, that the scope statement should address user conflict created by nets set in areas popular with sport fishers, that bycatch mortality and disposition should be addressed, that TAC reductions would impact businesses that rely on commercial fishing, that the rule would impact sport fishers and associated businesses, and that sport fishing and hunting fees should not be used to fund activities relating to commercial fishing management.
8. Comparison with Similar Rules in Adjacent States:
Along with Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois are the only adjacent states with a Lake Michigan commercial fishery. In Michigan, lake whitefish is the focus of the commercial fishery. In addition to the large commercial gill and trap net fishery, a small trawling fishery that focuses on smelt and lake whitefish has operated in Michigan waters of Green Bay since the 1960s. Illinois has a very limited commercial fishery on Lake Michigan. Both states have established quotas, gear requirements, and other restrictions for commercial fishing in Lake Michigan. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan all have a Lake Superior multi-species commercial fishery for such species as lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco, and regulate it through seasons, limitations on the number of licenses, and gear restrictions.
The use of electronic reporting for commercial fishing operations is a requirement in Ohio and Michigan. Ohio requires most commercial fishers to keep accurate daily records of catch and submit the reports monthly. Trap net licensees must submit these records electronically, including entering estimated weight of quota species into the electronic reporting system immediately after net lifts. Trap net fishers are also required to report when they set and remove nets ½ hour prior to returning to the dock, and must electronically report the estimated weight of non-quota species before entering a different grid. Michigan requires electronic reporting for commercial fishing, when it occurs, through the Fishing Activity and Catch Tracking System which allows users to report on smartphones.
9. Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies Used and How Any Related Findings Support the Regulatory Approach Chosen:
This rule will address quotas (allowable harvest) and other harvest management regulations for lake whitefish in Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan/Green Bay lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) population is of high value to commercial fishers and is also popular among sport anglers, especially in Green Bay. Three principal whitefish “stocks” (localized groups or populations that spawn and live in certain areas) occupy the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay, including a spawning stock in the North/Moonlight Bays area off eastern Door County, a stock in Big Bay de Noc (State of Michigan waters) and a newly developed stock from the west shore tributaries of Green Bay. Three zones for commercial fishing encompass these spawning stocks. Zone 1 is located entirely in the waters of Green Bay, Zone 2 includes waters surrounding the Door County peninsula on both the Green Bay and Lake Michigan side, and Zone 3 includes Lake Michigan waters from the city of Algoma in Kewaunee County and southward.
Figure 1: Lake Michigan commercial fishing zones.
The overall lake whitefish population (all stocks) in Lake Michigan has generally been in decline for several years with fewer fish recruiting to replenish the stocks. The current lake whitefish commercial total allowable commercial harvest in Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan (including Green Bay) is 2.88 million pounds of dressed whitefish per year, which was approved in 2010 (an increase from the prior limit). However, the total pounds of whitefish harvested has been significantly lower than this TAC for many years (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Lake Michigan commercial whitefish harvest by method compared to overall whitefish total allowable commercial harvest, 1960 - 2020
The trend of lower fish recruitment is especially true in the northern end of the lake. Preliminary data from an in-progress department-coordinated whitefish tagging study indicate that the whitefish from the Big Bay de Noc and North/Moonlight Bay stocks mix and contribute to the general Wisconsin commercial fishery in Lake Michigan. These data also indicate that some fish from these stocks, especially the Big Bay de Noc stock, move south into Wisconsin waters of Green Bay. In the lower half of Green Bay proper, however, whitefish stocks have been increasing in abundance and recolonizing historic spawning grounds over the past 10-15 years. Surveys show that some Wisconsin tributaries in Green Bay are sources of lake whitefish recruitment. Whitefish from these tributaries appear to generally remain in Green Bay as adults, with minimal movement into Lake Michigan.
Green Bay whitefish harvest
Due to the increase in whitefish abundance in lower Green Bay, this rule would allow commercial fishers to harvest additional whitefish in Zone 1. However, sport fishers have expressed concern about user conflicts in areas popular for recreational harvest of whitefish and other game fish, as well as commercial catch of non-target game fish species, which this rule addresses through a new restricted area.
The Zone 1 allowable harvest increase of 437,815 pounds of whitefish for a total allowable harvest of 800,000 pounds per year represents a safe harvest level from the total allowable commercial harvest (TAC) generated from the department’s whitefish population models for Green Bay. According to the Green Bay whitefish population model, the sustainable level of whitefish harvest for Green Bay is 2,355,778 pounds (which includes 2,000 pounds for department assessment work), which would be equally split between the sport fishing community and the commercial fishing industry. Therefore, the total commercial fishing portion would be 1,176,889 pounds in whitefish management zones WM1 and WM2 (which overlay Zone 1 and part of Zone 2 in Green Bay). In addition, the remaining 376,889 pounds of the TAC for Green Bay would be allowed to be harvested in the Green Bay portion of Zone 2. An additional 54,397 pounds would be allotted to Green Bay waters of Zone 2, for an allocation of 431,286 pounds of whitefish in Green Bay waters of Zone 2 and 945,000 pounds in Green Bay and Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2 combined. However, the Zone 2 waters of Green Bay would close to additional whitefish harvest when the Zone 2 allowable harvest within the TAC is reached. After future runs of the Green Bay population model, Zone 1 harvest would be limited either by 67.9758% of the future Green Bay TAC or 800,000 pounds, whichever is less. The 67.9758% was calculated by dividing the current Zone 1 allowable harvest of 800,000 pounds by the Green Bay TAC in this rule of 1,176,889 pounds.
This rule includes a new restricted area in southern Green Bay, in which commercial fishing for whitefish with trap nets would only be allowed by permit. This will help reduce user conflicts between sport and commercial fishers and reduce the issue of bycatch caught in trap nets set for whitefish. Additionally, existing rules require gill net users to move their nets if the level of bycatch reaches 10 percent of the total legal catch, which aims to address short-term bycatch issues.
Lake Michigan whitefish harvest
While whitefish stocks are increasing in Green Bay, the Lake Michigan whitefish population model reveals that stocks are stable or declining. Therefore, this rule adjusts the allowable harvest for Zones 2 and 3 to reflect the population model. After accounting for the Zone 3 allotment of 351,487 pounds, the remaining 448,920 pounds would be allotted to Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2. An additional 64,793 pounds will be allotted to Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2, for a harvest allocation of 513,714 pounds of whitefish in Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2 and 945,000 pounds of whitefish for the entirety of Zone 2. Therefore, the allowable harvest for Zone 2 (Lake Michigan and Green Bay waters) will decrease from the previous Zone 2 limit. However, the actual annual commercial whitefish harvest in Zone 2 has not approached the level of the new harvest limit over the past 8 years. Commercial fishers with individual quota allocations for Zone 2 will be able to fish in either the Green Bay waters of Zone 2, Lake Michigan waters of Zone 2 or both until the total allowable commercial harvest for Green Bay or Lake Michigan, less the Zone 1 and Zone 3 allowable harvest, is reached, to allow commercial fishers greater flexibility in where they fish for whitefish to maximize their individual quota allocations. Once the harvest limits for Zone 2 are reached, the Zone 2 waters of Green Bay, Lake Michigan, or both will be closed to further commercial fishing, but commercial fishers would be able to continue fishing in Zone 1 and Zone 3 as long as they still have available quota in those zones.
The allowable harvest in Zone 3 will not change in the short term with this rule. Therefore, Zone 3 commercial whitefish fishers would be able to continue fishing as they have under rules currently in effect. After future runs of the Lake Michigan population model, Zone 3 harvest would be limited either by 43.9135% of the future Lake Michigan TAC or 351,487 pounds, whichever is less. The 43.9135% was calculated by dividing the current Zone 3 allowable harvest of 351,487 pounds by the Lake Michigan TAC in this rule of 800,407 pounds.
Electronic harvest reporting
The use of an electronic harvest reporting system was first identified as a priority in the 2000 Commercial Fisheries Task Force report, but to date, the goal to receive all commercial harvest reports electronically has not been fulfilled. The report stated: “DNR shall establish an electronic Fish Harvest Reporting System (FHRS) in order to record and report all elements of the commercial catch. This system will replace the current biweekly reporting system, reducing paperwork and improving the timeliness and accuracy of reports. It will also form the basis for a database about fish populations that will assist with efficient management of the Great Lakes resource.”
The first electronic fish harvest reporting system was codified in 2008, with a mandate that all commercial fishers report electronically by July 2010. However, this rule was not ever fully implemented, so many commercial fishers continued to report on the biweekly paper forms, and rule-making in 2016 once again formally restored the paper reporting option with electronic reporting as an elective reporting method. Some commercial fishers have expressed discomfort with using smartphones or computers, or have noted inconsistent cell phone coverage to be able to enter reports when on the boat. However, over the past decade, advancements in cell phones, cell phone coverage, and integration of phones and mobile-friendly websites have improved exponentially, making electronic reporting even faster and easier. To safeguard against connectivity issues or system outages, the department has established procedures in s. NR 25.13 (2) (c), Wis. Admin. Code for situations in which the electronic device malfunctions or the licensee cannot connect to the electronic reporting system, including completing a paper copy of the report for that day before submitting it electronically upon reconnecting to the system. When this rule is implemented, all Great Lakes commercial fishers would be required to report information on their harvest and fishing activities through the current Electronic Fish Harvest Reporting System (EFHRS), which is a reporting option that multiple commercial fishers already utilize and which is the required reporting method in emergency rule FH-28-20 (E) / EmR 2114. EFHRS is the only reporting method that can both provide timely data on commercial fish harvest and track bycatch levels on a daily basis, so its use is critical for both monitoring commercial fisheries and catch of bycatch for certain fisheries, such as whitefish. As with the emergency rule, to provide some flexibility for reporting if certain commercial fishers do not have easy access to a smartphone or computer while on the water, this rule would provide two options, one of which allows the commercial fisher to first record the information on a paper form after the last net lift of the day. To further assist commercial fishers in utilizing EFHRS, the department has developed an instruction manual on using the system and will provide training sessions as well.
10. Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine the Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of an Economic Impact Report:
The rule will impact the harvest of lake whitefish by commercial fishers, and exact economic impacts are likely to vary among commercial fishers. Because of the shift in distribution and overall decline in lake whitefish populations, some members of the Lake Michigan commercial fishing community may benefit more from the increase of allowable whitefish harvest in Green Bay than others.
