Commercial fishing resumes

Staff reports

REDBY, Minn. – Red Lake Fisheries held an open house and dedication ceremony Nov. 19 to celebrate the re-opening and refurbished building in Redby that will employ scores of workers and walleye anglers.

About 50 people attended the open house, at which new Red Lake Fisheries manager Sean Rock was introduced. Rock has experience in Alaska commercial fisheries.

Red Lake Nation Foods supervisor Joel Rhode introduced the fisheries staff, guests from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and members of the Swampy Cree First Nation of Manitoba. Rhode also provided a summary of plant improvements, upgrades and costs, followed by a brief tour of the refurbished plant and a feast at Redby Center.

”Credit should be given to the [U.S. Department of Agriculture] for their consultation on the plant improvements and upgrades,” said Red Lake DNR Director Al Pemberton. ”They advised us on the nonslip floors, lighting, doors, electrical improvements and other items. That included repainting of the building, both inside and out, and we’ve got two brand-new signs on the premises announcing that we are back in business.”

Brief history of Red Lake Fisheries

Red Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the United States wholly contained within one state. Red Lake Fisheries was the only commercial walleye fishery, and one of the largest freshwater commercial fisheries, in the United States. The fishery was established in 1917 under Minnesota law to produce fish as a wartime measure during World War I because of a meat shortage. It was established as a co-op in 1929 and subsequently operated by Red Lake tribal members until it shut down.

Walleye, perch and northern fillets were available for sale both retail and wholesale, frozen and fresh. During this time, the fisheries employed 500 independent fishermen and 40 to 50 processors.

Walleye populations in Red Lake collapsed in the mid-1990s, forcing the closure of the fisheries. Something had to be done, so the Red Lake Band led an effort to bring the walleye back. The effort commenced in 1999 with the signing of a 10-year agreement between the band, the state of Minnesota and the BIA. Other partners included U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the University of Minnesota and the Red Lake Fisheries Association. This effort included a complete moratorium on walleye harvesting and a large-scale stocking effort.

Although it was uncertain if walleye stocks could actually be recovered, the team succeeded in bringing the walleye back from near-extinction to an optimal level in just seven years. Fishing resumed in 2006 under a management plan guided by a team of fishery experts. To ensure the sustainability of the resource, the fishery will no longer be regulated by the Secretary of the Interior Department, but by the tribe.

New rules and regulations for fishing

About two years ago, the Red Lake Tribal Council decided to start planning for the reopening of the fisheries. The building and equipment were inspected. It was decided that much of the equipment needed replacement, including both the freezing and cooling systems. The tribal council also set up new rules and regulations regarding the re-opening of fishing on Red Lake.

Fishing was basically nonexistent over the past few years. In 2006, the limit for walleyes was two, and up to August 2007 it was six. As of Sept. 17, 2007, fishing re-opened only for angling with limits greatly increased. There will be no netting for the foreseeable future.

Subsistence fishers can take up to 10 per day with a length limit. Commercial fishers, again only by angling, may take up to 50 per day, but there are new controls on commercial fishers in order to better police the resource. Each fisher will check out a numbered red cooler at the fisheries before they go out. As of now, only a handful of people have taken up commercial fishing for the 180 – 200 coolers currently available, but Rhode expects that eventually there may be up to 400 people who will take up the job as people purchase boats and motors, or tune up the old ones long out of use.

The new fisheries: How it happened

In early 2007, Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr. met with Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Stanley Crooks. The Shakopee Tribe provided a $1 million Red Lake Fisheries Rehabilitation Grant for fiscal year 2007 that ended in September. Much work was done, but in order to get the plant up and running, the Shakopee tribe then provided another million-dollar grant for FY 2008.

According to Rhode, several new machines are in-house or will be arriving soon. One he pointed out is the grading system: ”we will be able to better serve restaurants now with the grading system by being able to sort by size which is quite important in the dining industry.”

FY ’07 monies were used to remove the old ammonia-based refrigeration, freezing and ice-making units with a new, safer and more efficient freon-based system. Other items included a flash freezer, forklift and pallet jacks; the hiring of key personnel; upgrading water and electric systems; and the purchase of a tub grinder/mixer to grind and compost fish waste generated and use it for fertilizer for the Red Lake wild rice farms.

FY ’08 monies are being used to buy a delivery truck with a refrigeration box; two used 4×4 pickups; two boats, motors and trailers; contract services for value-added products and kosher certification; smoke house; vacuum sealer; metal detectors; air curtains; money for promotion; and more.

When up and rolling, Rhode figures to process up to 15,000 pounds a day and employ 20 people in the processing plant. With the new machines, processing will need less workers and should be a bit easier and more efficient.

The future: Economic development through Red Lake Nation Foods

Red Lake Nation Foods is a growing business on the reservation that employs several people in a variety of capacities.

Although the fishery operated profitably, much has changed since the fishery closed. The demand for high-quality fish has increased, overnight shipping is practical, processing and packaging technology has improved, and sales over the Internet have taken off.

These changes provide an opportunity for the tribe to maximize processing locally, increasing profit potential and providing more jobs for Red Lake members. The fishery will take advantage of capabilities and networks established through Red Lake Nation Foods, a fledgling but promising business wholly owned by the tribe. Red Lake Nation Foods products include wild rice, syrup and berry products as well as birch bark and other craft items produced on the reservation. The addition of fish products will enhance this business. Red Lake Nation Foods will be re-structured to operate as a business entity separate from the tribal government.

To ensure the long-term viability of the fisheries, things will start off slow, increasing harvest and sales as markets are developed. Red Lake Nation Foods is currently exploring working with the Swampy Cree First Nation, which also does commercial fishing, to process some of their fish in order to make full use of the capabilities of the new plant.