I’ve been asked to attend the WI DNR’s Sturgeon Advisory committee to help shape the management plan in the future.
The plan WI is using today dates back to 2000 and many goals have been achieved. Basically, they would like to tweak it.
I’m really going to try to keep this short. If your interested, the attachments will make great bedtime reading for many a night.
The first meeting was introductions ect along with trying to hammer out an Objective Statement. From 2000’s plan..
This Lake Sturgeon Management Plan was created to preserve, protect, and restore lake sturgeon
populations in Wisconsin for the benefit of the sturgeon resource and all its users.
One personal observation. They seem to focus in on inland waters and very little mention of the St Croix or Mississippi River. This might be because the MN DNR seems to be working in these areas.
I was surprised to find out that it’s just the border waters that has the 8 month long catch and release season. Most inland waters have a Sept catch and kill season (or release if not 60″).
When the 8 public meetings were held, there were less than 30 people that attended. Less than 20 public comments via email. I don’t think many of use knew about these meetings.
This is why I’m posting this today.
We’re at the start of the recommendations that will go to the WI DNR for final approval.
Now is the time to read up and speak up.
To contact the WI DNR Sturgeon Committee with your suggestions or comments use the following email address.
The 2000 Plan and Review can be found on this page.
WI 2000 Sturgeon Management Plan
This page will be updated as we go through the new plan.
If you are planning on sending an email, I might suggest “cast nets for Shad on the St Croix/Mississippi Rivers on the WI side”. Just a suggestion.
