luv2brw
03-20-2012, 07:40 AM
From the Lakeland Times:
Tribe, DNR at odds over spring spearing, bag limits
Leaders continue pointing figures, won't budge
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians were issued a public challenge from DNR secretary Cathy Stepp last week.
Chairman Tom Maulson says it's going to take Stepp and the state to get off their "high horse and come down to their level" before an agreement to keep the walleye bag limit on the ceded territory at three, is reached.
Maulson spoke with The Lakeland Times this week after a Stepp's public statement hit newspapers, including The Times, criticizing the tribe for making adjustments to their declarations too late in the game.
For the past 15 years, the DNR has dictated the number of fish that could be taken, along with size limits to which spearers must adhere.
Those numbers are based off the total allowable catch (TAC) which is a number reached through spring netting and fall shocking surveys done by the DNR on a rotational basis.
As far as the agreement goes, Maulson said there are a lot of different options on the table in which adjustments could be made on the state's side, which would keep the walleye bag limit at three. Stepp, though, doesn't feel comfortable, and feels the DNR would be compromising the area fishery.
Maulson said the people of Lac du Flambeau haven't been getting a fair shake in recent negotiations, particularly with the number of fish they want to be allowed to take.
Maulson believes that even with the latest declarations, which have not yet become public, the state could feasibly keep the bag limit at three and not harm the walleye population in area lakes.
Stepp, however, said the state will remain strong in the opinion that there is not enough scientific information to back up the claims that taking more fish would not hurt the lakes in the greater Lakeland area.
In 1997, a compromise between the state and Lac du Flambeau set forth an agreement guaranteeing that the tribe would only harvest enough walleye from each lake so that a three-bag limit could be established for hook-and-line fishermen.
In return the tribe would be recognized as a sovereign nation, allowing the sale of tribal and state fishing licenses within the boundaries of the reservation. Funds generated through the sale of the licenses would be retained by the tribe.
Compromises between the tribe and state are reviewed annually. If the tribe decides in any given year that they would like to increase their fishing take, they must provide a notice six months prior to the spearing season of their intent.
For more up to date information, and more comments from Maulson and Stepp, see Friday's print edition of The Lakeland Times.
Also, for breaking updates, follow The Lakeland Times on Facebook and on Twitter. Check back for more updates online at www.lakelandtimes.com.
Douglas Etten may be reached at detten@lakelandtimes.com.
Tribe, DNR at odds over spring spearing, bag limits
Leaders continue pointing figures, won't budge
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians were issued a public challenge from DNR secretary Cathy Stepp last week.
Chairman Tom Maulson says it's going to take Stepp and the state to get off their "high horse and come down to their level" before an agreement to keep the walleye bag limit on the ceded territory at three, is reached.
Maulson spoke with The Lakeland Times this week after a Stepp's public statement hit newspapers, including The Times, criticizing the tribe for making adjustments to their declarations too late in the game.
For the past 15 years, the DNR has dictated the number of fish that could be taken, along with size limits to which spearers must adhere.
Those numbers are based off the total allowable catch (TAC) which is a number reached through spring netting and fall shocking surveys done by the DNR on a rotational basis.
As far as the agreement goes, Maulson said there are a lot of different options on the table in which adjustments could be made on the state's side, which would keep the walleye bag limit at three. Stepp, though, doesn't feel comfortable, and feels the DNR would be compromising the area fishery.
Maulson said the people of Lac du Flambeau haven't been getting a fair shake in recent negotiations, particularly with the number of fish they want to be allowed to take.
Maulson believes that even with the latest declarations, which have not yet become public, the state could feasibly keep the bag limit at three and not harm the walleye population in area lakes.
Stepp, however, said the state will remain strong in the opinion that there is not enough scientific information to back up the claims that taking more fish would not hurt the lakes in the greater Lakeland area.
In 1997, a compromise between the state and Lac du Flambeau set forth an agreement guaranteeing that the tribe would only harvest enough walleye from each lake so that a three-bag limit could be established for hook-and-line fishermen.
In return the tribe would be recognized as a sovereign nation, allowing the sale of tribal and state fishing licenses within the boundaries of the reservation. Funds generated through the sale of the licenses would be retained by the tribe.
Compromises between the tribe and state are reviewed annually. If the tribe decides in any given year that they would like to increase their fishing take, they must provide a notice six months prior to the spearing season of their intent.
For more up to date information, and more comments from Maulson and Stepp, see Friday's print edition of The Lakeland Times.
Also, for breaking updates, follow The Lakeland Times on Facebook and on Twitter. Check back for more updates online at www.lakelandtimes.com.
Douglas Etten may be reached at detten@lakelandtimes.com.