| Fisheries management in the Laurentian Great Lakes remains a challenge due to the lack of natural reproduction of native lake trout stocks ( Salvelinus namaycush), invasive aquatic species, social conflict between treaty-right Native commercial fishers and state-licensed sport fishers, and lack of cooperative management between tribal and state regulatory agencies. Between 1985 and 2000, fisheries management in the Great Lakes was governed by a court-imposed fisheries management policy, the 1985 Consent Order, which was created to achieve the following goals: (1) promote rehabilitation and conservation of lake trout, (2) reduce social conflict, and (3) provide a framework for joint management of the fishery. To assess the effectiveness of the 1985 Consent Order, individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with pertinent stakeholder groups. Under this policy, most stakeholders believed that lake trout abundance increased, social conflict was reduced, and management of the Great Lakes fishery became more cooperative. However, lack of lake trout fry survival and recruitment remains obstacles for species conservation, and fishing opportunities diminished for some Native fishers. A comparative analysis was also conducted between this policy and its replacement, the 2000 Consent Decree. Most believe lake trout rehabilitation, social conflict, and cooperative management will be improved under the new policy, but the potential for future social conflict exists. |
