Identifying Movement Patterns of Atikameg (Lake Whitefish) in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior for Treaty Rights and Resource Protection

WFBAG

May 2024 - December 2029

Atikameg support recreational, subsistence, and commercial fisheries within the 1836 Treaty Waters. Bay Mills Indian Community continues to practice its retained treaty rights in each of these fisheries, and especially in nearby Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior. Whitefish Management units were created within the Great Lakes to help manage these fisheries. Two management units make up the 1836 Treaty Waters of Whitefish Bay. WFS-07 is to the west, is larger spatially and in Atikameg population abundance, and extends beyond the bay into the open waters of Lake Superior. While most of the documented spawning activity occurs within Whitefish Bay, some is documented outside of the bay. WFS-08 is the smaller eastern unit closest to the Bay Mills Indian Community, and is completely within the bay. Mixing between WFS-07 and WFS-08 does occur, however, the extent of this mixing and each management units’ contributions to the commercial fishery is not known. Acoustic telemetry will be used to:

• Determine the degree of mixing between management units WFS-07 and WFS-08 for populations of Atikamegwag.
• Determine spawning site fidelity for Atikamegwag spawning in WFS-07 and WFS-08.
• Determine the relative contribution to the commercial fishery from Atikamegwag associated with specific spawning reefs.

• Determine if combining population models for WFS-07 and WFS-08 is prudent.
• Incorporate up to date fish movement and habitat use data into the current statistical catch at age models that inform management in Whitefish Bay.
• Better understand WFS-07’s and WFS-08’s contributions to the commercial fishery.

• Simon Freeman (Bay Mills Indian Community) - sfreeman@baymills.org
• Jason Smith (Bay Mills Indian Community)

• Bay Mills Indian Community

• Bureau of Indian Affairs - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative