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Little Traverse
Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
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BHW Federal Building
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Fort Snelling, MN 55111
Phone: 612-713-5108
Fax: 612-713-5280
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Return to Tribal Grants Main PageTribal Wildlife Grant 2005
$250,000
Gray Wolf Management PlanTribal Wildlife Grant 2004
$129,261.00
LTBB Tribal Wildlife Project -- Bald Eagle and Wycamp Lake Comprehensive Management Plans
Douglas Craven, 231-242-1670Fish Aging Techniques Subject of Michigan Workshop
Fisheries Biologist Adam Kowalski and Fisheries Technician Lori Betcher (R3-Alpena FRO) attended a fish aging class sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Marquette research staff Jan. 22-23 in Marquette, Mich. Organizations attending included the Little Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Bay Mills Indian Community, and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. The class focused on the aging techniques for lake whitefish and lake trout, but also touched on perch. Aging techniques included aging using calcified structures; including scales, otolith, and fin ray. Aging using otolith was performed with two techniques; one was the crack and burn method where the otolith was cracked in half and burned to highlight the annulus, the other method performed was polishing the otolith and looking at it under a microscope connected to a computer using the Optimus software for fish aging and a Wallis filter. These two procedures were used for whitefish and lake trout. Fin rays for all species mentioned were prepared by sectioning the ray using a Dremel tool, placing drops of vinegar on the section to highlight the annulus and looking at it under a dissecting microscope. The technique of pressing scales was also demonstrated. Scales impression on acetate slides are viewed on microfiche and an eber- bach. The Alpena Fishery Resources Office (FRO) currently does not have the equipment to view otolith on the computer or the wallis filter. This equipment is going to be essential for aging fish with better accuracy in the future. Also the eber-bach for viewing scales is not available at the Alpina FRO but would also make aging whitefish and lake trout easier and more accurate. The workshop offered an opportunity to improve aging skills and learn different methods of aging whitefish and lake trout in the great lakes area. Computer software and filter offered a more accurate approach to aging white fish and lake trout using otoliths. Other equipment such as are currently unavailable at the Alpina FRO. This workshop allowed for insight to this equipment that if purchased will make aging whitefish and lake trout at the Alpina FRO easier and more accurate.
Partners: agencies that attended the class include: Little Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Bay Mills Indian Community, and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Service Biologist Attends North American Lake Trout Symposium
Fishery biologist Aaron Woldt of the Alpina Fisheries Resource Office attended the Symposium on the Ecology, Habitat, and Management of Lake Trout in North America from August 14th to 17th in Whitehorse, Yukon. The symposium brought state and federal management agencies and researchers together to share jurisdictional management approaches, problems, and recent developments regarding lake trout stocks in North America. As co-chair of the Modeling Subcommittee (MSC) of the Technical Fisheries Committee (TFC), biologist Woldt gave two oral presentations and was a co-author of another. The TFC is a committee of representatives of the seven parties to the 2000 Consent Decree that oversees Decree implementation. The 2000 Consent Decree is a 20-year negotiated agreement that allocates fish stocks in 1836 Treaty waters of the upper Great Lakes among parties. The MSC annually updates lake trout and whitefish population models and calculates yearly harvest limits. Woldt''s first talk was a plenary address describing the current status and management of lake trout stocks in Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. Special emphasis was placed on the interjurisdictional nature of Great Lakes lake trout management. Woldt provided Lake Huron data, and data from lakes Superior and Michigan were provided by Jory Jonas and Shawn Sitar of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The talk highlighted contributions from all resource agencies conducting lake trout research in Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. These agencies include the Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Chippewa/Ottawa Resource Authority, Unites States Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center, Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Woldt''s second talk focused on the current status and management of lake trout in northern Lake Huron. The talk highlighted the workings of the MSC and TFC and described how the MSC uses statistical-catch-at-age models to monitor progress towards rehabilitation for lake trout stocks in 1836 Treaty waters. Conference attendees provided constructive feedback that should aid our stock assessment and modeling efforts. Valued discussion topics included the following: how to better estimate natural mortality, the affects of hooking mortality in live release fisheries, and the importance of incorporating all stake-holder input into resource management decisions.
Resource Outputs: The symposium was a great opportunity to present the modeling approaches of the MSC and the status of lake trout stocks in 1836 Treaty waters to a wide audience with experience in lake trout management. Conference attendees provided constructive input on lake trout management and rehabilitation that should aid our rehabilitation efforts in the Great Lakes.
Partners: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Chippewa/Ottawa Resource Authority, United States Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center, Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
