Water Division Objective:

Fishing_on_Long_Lake_at_Germain_Hemlocks, Endangered Resources Staff

To enhance and restore outstanding fisheries in Wisconsin's waters.

Wisconsin's deeply embedded traditions of fishing, camping and love of the outdoors both stems from and undergirds the state's fundamental precepts concerning esteem for natural resources. The state's goal of enhancing and restoring fisheries is a commitment to uphold and honor those values and to maintain a trust with the anglers and outdoors people of Wisconsin.

To successfully enhance and restore Wisconsin's fisheries:

Fisheries managers must have adequate information to set attainable management objectives, evaluate attainment of those objectives, and make recommendations on required fishing regulations, stocking quotas, and habitat restoration and improvements on each managed water.

All stocking quota, fishing regulation, habitat restoration or improvement or environmental permit recommendations must be based on quantitative management objectives, adequate monitoring or assessment information, and accepted scientific principles, and have adequate public input.

Maintain current sport and commercial fishery levels on the Great Lakes.

Effectively utilize available Trout Stamp funding to restore and improve an optimal amount of inland trout stream habitat each year. Provide additional Fish and Wildlife Account funding such that total investments in inland trout management programs (including inland stocking) are commensurate with the number of inland trout anglers and trout harvest (currently about 12% of total anglers and catch).

Ensure that the joint sport and tribal fishery in Wisconsin’s ceded territory is managed at a sustainable harvest level and within the constraints of the federal court decision.

While most Wisconsin waters do not need fish stocking to provide outstanding fishing because they have adequate natural reproduction, approximately 10% of lakes and streams including Lakes Michigan and Superior will have better fishing for some species if stocked.

To accomplish this DNR effectively stocks all waters that need stocking as determined by scientific assessments.

Fisheries management field activities involving heavy equipment, shops and tools, boats and other on-water based equipment, electroshocking, chemicals, and similar introduce safety risks for employees. A safety first culture must be established and nurtured to avoid injuries or risks to employees.

Last Revised: Friday February 29 2008