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If you have questions specific to the NE, SE or NW part of the state please list them here or if you prefer to remain anon. PM them to me. There will not be biologists present from these areas I've agreed to submit questions to them cc'd to the DNR representatives that will be in attendance the week before so they can discuss the questions and answers.
i love and hate this. i dont like hearing excuses.
1. Why are we allowing 72% of our waters be left unprotected during the spawning season?
2. Why do our lakes that are easily subjected to overharvest not protected with special regulations when there is science based evidence that shows overharvest? Black Lake, Indian River, Lower Chain. These waters rely on natural reproduction only and they are subject to harvest before maturity. Im sure the tag system has helped but these fisheries have such low densities that even a few fish taken makes an impact.
example: one year exploitation rate of 36% but a two year exploitation rate of 18% on elk/skeg. There seems to be a correlation here. extreme overharvest one year and low harvest the next assuming that the study was done in that order. if so its pretty obvious how many fish are in these systems and how much we can afford to lose.
Last year political pressures allowed multiple if not all lake dredging permits to operate inside the standard "no dredging habitat protection windows". These windows in particular are used to protect spawning fish. Do you foresee issues with poor natural reproduction in last year's age classes in lake systems which rely on natural reproduction? If lake levels are still low (hard to believe after this winter) will these windows continue to be ignored jeopardizing two consecutive age classes?
"treeman" said:
Last year political pressures allowed multiple if not all lake dredging permits to operate inside the standard "no dredging habitat protection windows". These windows in particular are used to protect spawning fish. Do you foresee issues with poor natural reproduction in last year's age classes in lake systems which rely on natural reproduction? If lake levels are still low (hard to believe after this winter) will these windows continue to be ignored jeopardizing two consecutive age classes?
Can you site locations so I know who should get this?
"Revinchev" said:
[quote="Jim tenHaaf"]Just remember, these are going to be questions, not accusations or attacks! 😀
just throwing out ideas [smilie=biggrin.gif]
Write them however you want on here, I will rewrite if needed. I didn't see anything wrong with what you wrote. Trust me, the DNR people attending will be ready for hardball.
This is closed now, I need to give them enough time to review and respond.
I submitted the following questions to those unable to attend:
1. Why are the waters of the Antrim chain and the Inland waterway unprotected during the spawning season?
Related: Why are areas where muskellunge spawn not protected during spawning? This would be specific to river situations (Black and Torch particularly).
2. Why have special regulations not been placed on waters where over harvest has been documented? The one/season with tag is a statewide regulation but will have little impact on waters where 10 fish harvested would be an exploitation rate of 20-50%
3. Why is Michigan the only state or province that allows spearing for muskellunge? There are numerous reports each season of undersize harvest by mistake, due to misidentification, or because the length wasn't able to be accurately estimated. Despite the new regulation this method of harvest is and should be a serious concern because it it 100% mortality, undersize fish can't be released.
4. Is dredging during "habitat protection windows", that has happened recently, a cause for concern in waters that rely on natural reproduction (all species)?
5. With so many new waters being stocked with GLMUS and the hope that many of these waters can rely on natural reproduction eventually, shouldn't these waters be closed to all methods of harvest until the populations can establish themselves?
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