GLFC Home Page LAKE SUPERIOR COMMITTEE
Thunder Bay, Ontario
17-18 March 1998
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – 18 March version
1. LSTC Terms of Reference
The LSC approved revised terms of reference for the L. Superior Technical Committee (attached).
2. Underwater Logging
The LSC commended to the CLC for discussion WDNR guidelines for underwater logging:
a) hemlock and basswood are to remain in the lake
b) every log less than 10 inches diameter will remain in the lake
c) no slab wood will be removed
d) natural trees that have fallen into the lake will remain
e) site-specific timing restrictions will apply (e.g., no harvesting during spawning seasons)
f) any other site-specific restrictions
g) no historical artifacts will be removed
h) logs must be lifted straight up and not dragged on the bottom.
3. Revising Fish Community Objectives
Bill Horns (WDNR) chairs a drafting committee, which will produce a first draft by mid-September. A meeting was planned to discuss format, general directions and assignments.
The LSC suggested / approved the following for consideration by the drafting committee: Update previous objectives making them quantifiable, plus discuss how system works. Refrain from management advice and from implying values – discuss instead current understanding and concerns. Organization, e.g. open water / nearshore / tributaries up to drafting committee. A principle: one species should not be managed at expense of another. Minimize mortality to sturgeon from sea lamprey control. Walleye objective can be made more precise now. HAB assistance offered for environmental objectives.
4. Priorities for Funding
The LSC adopted the following priorities for funding:
a) To contact the LHTC and LMTC about creating a joint proposal to seek money from great Lakes Fishery Trust for coordinated acoustics surveys on lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron.
b) Priority should be given to basic assessment by all agencies. Stock assessment data are fundamental requirements for answering fish community objective related questions and monitoring the status of populations in order to evaluate fish community objectives And management policy. Proper fish stock assessments are dependent upon proper staffing by all agencies.
c) That the Great Lakes Science Center of USGS-BRD give the following studies their highest priority for funding:
i. maintaining prey fish surveys with trawls and entering into acoustics on a routine basis;
ii. development of deepwater (> 100 fa) surveys with trawls, gill nets, and acoustics;
iii. maintenance of databases on diet and predators; and
iv. strategic mapping of habitat like has already been done in Minnesota waters of Lake Superior.
d) That USFWS and GLFC Partnership funds (40K from GLFC and 75K from USFWS) be used to complete updates of lake trout population models in all management units of U.S. waters of Lake Superior. Development of these models should be given high priority for funding since the models are used to generate total allowable catches, estimate stock-recruitment relationships, produce estimates of stock size for use in ecosystem modeling, and for understanding sea lamprey and lake trout interactions. (The LSC will write GLFC for Coordination Activities Program funding.)
5. USGS—BRD
The LSC will write a letter supporting the budget of the Biological Research Division of the US Geological Survey.
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
OF THE GREAT LAKES FISHERY COMMISSION’S
LAKE SUPERIOR COMMITTEE
TITLE: The Lake Superior Technical Committee
MEMBERSHIP: Chairman – From any agency
Members – One representative from each fishery research and management agency, including the Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Chippewa-Ottawa Treaty Fishery Management Authority, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, U.S. Geological Survey - Biological resources Division, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and one representative from each sea lamprey control agent including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Resource Persons – As required form any agency or university.
RESPONSIBILITIES: To carry out work assignments for the Lake Superior Committee (the Committee) including:
1. Providing agencies represented on the Committee with technical information on the status of stock including management alternatives and guidelines in making and evaluating fisheries management decisions;
2. Reviewing proposed work assignments with the Committee and agreeing on the assignments to be carried out;
3. Completing assignments as agreed upon and reporting back to the Committee at its annual meeting;
4. Arranging for resource persons to assist the member as required;
5. Advising the committee Chairman of any additional funding or requirements as needed;
6. Providing at the direction of the Committee, semi-annual, annual, and state-of-the-lake reports to the Committee members.
FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS: As deemed necessary by the Chairman.
AGENCY COMMITMENTS: Agencies are encouraged to commit employees and resources as a regular component of agency work plans, in order to ensure a regular accomplishment of committee assignments.
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