Following efforts from Klobuchar and Nolan, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued temporary special use permits in November 2015 to allow for the harvest of cisco fish near Prairie Portage; this unique geographic location near the Canadian border has served as a critical supply point for bait shop owners who provide much of the bait for recreational anglers
In a letter to USFS Chief Tidwell, Klobuchar and Nolan urged the agency to cooperate with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to come to an agreement on a long-term, permanent solution to ensure a sustainable harvest of ciscoes near Prairie Portage will continue
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Rick Nolan called for a permanent solution to ensure the sustainable harvest of cisco fish near Prairie Portage. Following efforts from Klobuchar and Nolan, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued temporary special use permits in November 2015 to allow for the harvest of cisco fish near Prairie Portage. This unique geographic location near the Canadian border has served as a critical supply point for bait shop owners who provide much of the bait for recreational anglers. In a letter to USFS Chief Tidwell, Klobuchar and Nolan urged the agency to cooperate with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to come to an agreement on a long-term permanent solution to ensure a sustainable harvest of ciscoes near Prairie Portage will continue.
“We also believe a sustainable harvest of ciscoes near Prairie Portage will continue to enhance public enjoyment and appreciation of the unique resources of the region,” the lawmakers wrote. “That’s why we urge you to work with the Minnesota DNR to identify a practical solution that will protect both the BWCAW and the local recreational economy.”
The full text of the lawmakers’ letter is below:
Dear Chief Tidwell:
We were pleased that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued temporary special use permits in November 2015 to allow for the harvest of cisco fish near Prairie Portage in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). While we appreciate your work in granting these temporary permits, we urge the cooperation of the USFS and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to come to an agreement on a long-term, permanent solution to ensure a sustainable harvest of ciscoes near Prairie Portage will continue.
The Minnesota DNR has been issuing permits for the responsible management of the cisco fish population for decades and local residents have been regularly harvesting the popular bait fish without controversy in Basswood Lake since before the implementation of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and after the enactment of the 1978 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act, which established additional protections for the wilderness. This unique geographic location near the Canadian border has served as a critical supply point for bait shop owners who provide much of the bait for recreational anglers.
We take very seriously the concerns we have heard about the spread of aquatic invasive species like the spiny water flea throughout the BWCAW. The Minnesota DNR has assured us that they have regulations in place to minimize and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, including requiring that gill nets be dried for a minimum of 10 days or frozen for two days before use in another waterbody.
The BWCAW is a cultural and environmental treasure and we all agree that its lakes, streams, shorelines, and forested areas need to be protected and preserved. We also believe a sustainable harvest of ciscoes near Prairie Portage will continue to enhance public enjoyment and appreciation of the unique resources of the region. That’s why we urge you to work with the Minnesota DNR to identify a practical solution that will protect both the BWCAW and the local recreational economy.
Again, we thank you for your decision to grant temporary permits for cisco harvesting in November 2015, and we look forward to working with you to identify and implement a workable long-term solution.
Sincerely,
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