Friday, September 17, 2010

DNR News: Three news releases for immediate release

Editors…please see the three attached releases…

 

 

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; Gary Barnard, Bemidji area fisheries supervisor, 218-308-2339.

Northern pike regulation change for Upper Red Lake to be discussed

A special regulation that requires anglers to release all northern pike 26- to 40-inches long from Upper Red Lake has been in place since 2006. A proposal is being considered to modify this regulation to protect larger northern pike from 26- to 44-inches long.

 

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries staff will hold a local public meeting to provide information on the proposal and to accept public comments about whether to proceed with the modification. The meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m., at the North Beltrami Community Center, on Gould Avenue and Main Street in Kelliher.

 

For those unable to attend the local meeting, an open house will be held at the DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul, on Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff will be available to take comments on the proposal.

 

Written comments may also be submitted until Monday, Oct. 18, by e-mail to gary.barnard@state.mn.us, or by mail to DNR Area Fisheries, 2114 Bemidji Ave., Bemidji, MN 56601. Those who wish to provide comments by phone may call 218-308-2339.

 

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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            sEPTEMBER 17, 2010

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, communications director, 651-259-5023; Dean Beck, Glenwood area fisheries supervisor, 320-634-4573.

Minimum walleye length on Osakis,
Little Osakis to be discussed Sept. 30

The minimum walleye length on Osakis and Little Osakis lakes will be the focus of a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) public meeting from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Pollard Community Center, 18 Nokomis Street, in Osakis.

 

DNR fisheries staff will explain the existing 15-inch minimum length limit regulation and solicit public comments on whether the regulation should remain in place, be modified or dropped.

 

For those unable to attend the local meeting, there also will be an open house from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, in St. Paul.  Staff will be available to take comments on the regulation.

 

Written comments also may be submitted until Monday, Oct. 11, by e-mail to dean.beck@state.mn.us or by mail to DNR Area Fisheries Office, 23070 North Lakeshore Drive, Glenwood, MN 56334. Those who wish to provide comments by phone may call

320-634-4573.

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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            september 17, 2010

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, communications director, 651-259-5023; Harlan Fierstine, Walker area fisheries supervisor, 218-547-1683.

DNR seeks public input on proposals for Leech Lake walleye slot limit

Those interested in walleye regulations on Leech Lake can learn more about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) proposals to maintain or modify existing regulations at an upcoming public meeting. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 6-9 p.m. at the Walker/Hackensack/Akeley school commons in Walker.

 

DNR fisheries staff will explain why the department is considering maintaining regulations adopted in 2005, which require Leech Lake anglers to immediately release all walleye 18-to

26-inches in length. Anglers are allowed to keep up to four walleye, only one of which can be longer than 26 inches.

 

A second proposal would require anglers to immediately release all walleye 20-to 26-inches in length. The bag limit would remain at four fish, with one of those walleye allowed to be longer than 26 inches. If DNR population surveys determine that female walleye density was negatively impacted by the reduced slot limit, DNR could revert back to the 18-to 26-inch slot limit.

 

“The ability to revert back to a more protective slot limit gives us flexibility,” said Harlan Fierstine, the DNR’s Walker area fisheries supervisor. “It allows anglers to keep larger fish while providing a useful management tool that allows us to protect younger year classes of walleye. if necessary, to meet population objectives established by Leech Lake’s citizen input committee.”

 

Those unable to attend the meeting in Walker can discuss the proposals with DNR staff from

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at DNR headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, in St. Paul.

 

Written comments may be submitted until Monday, Oct. 25, via e-mail to harlan.fierstine@state.mn.us, or via postal mail to DNR Area Fisheries, 07316 State 371 NW, Walker, MN 56484. Telephone comments can be made by calling the Walker area fisheries office at 218-547-1683.

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Louise Like

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources

1201 E. Hwy 2

Grand Rapids, MN  55744

 

Email:  "louise.like@state.mn.us"

Phone:  218-327-4455

FAX:  218-327-4263