PROJECT TITLE: Protected areas: A new way to save fisheries I. PROJECT STATEMENT Minnesota’s lakes and fisheries are in decline as a direct consequence of many factors including habitat loss, deteriorating water quality, overfishing, warming, and now AIS. Despite enormous efforts to address these issues (ex. habitat preservation/restoration, boat inspection programs, stocking, water quality improvements, etc.), we are still falling short. The reason is simple: these factors are severe and so inter-linked that traditional practices, in which individual agencies focus on only one/few of them, cannot get the job done, especially with increasing fishing pressure and limited budgets. Clearly, the factors that threaten our waters must be addressed collectively and holistically. Over a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt recognized that the nation’s dwindling wildlife were similarly threatened and responded by establishing national wildlife refuges and national parks. These systems have worked extraordinarily well. Similarly, 75 years ago, saltwater fish biologists in Florida faced with dwindling fisheries started protecting key pieces of the ocean from overfishing and related pressures. This once controversial approach has also proven successful, and there are now nearly 15,000 marine protected areas (MPAs) worldwide with plans for more. MPAs identify small, high-quality portions of key habitats and ecosystems and protect them from over-exploitation and misuse while still allowing stakeholder access. Good MPAs develop trophy fisheries locally and allow fish to expand into surrounding waters. Research on MPAs shows that aquatic protected areas do need to be large but do need to be selected based on factors that include ecosystem integrity (habitat), no AIS, good water quality, low fishing pressure, and meaningful enforcement. This concept seems well-suited to lakes but must first be proven scientifically. Then, a next step might be to develop and test some experimental protected areas. We are fortunate: we both have waters that resemble protected areas (ex. state parks, scientific and natural areas, heritage lakes, remote lakes) that can be studied and we know what variables to examine (ex. connections to a quality watershed, habitat quality, water quality, and no AIS). Our proof-of-concept project will study these extant areas and their characteristics to see if their fisheries really are better and why, thereby setting the stage to test and develop the protected area concept further. Access to these protected areas would be open but carefully regulated as justified by their extraordinary value. The final goal might be to protect 5% (several hundred) of Minnesota’s waters, initially using systems we already have. We protect hundreds of terrestrial systems and their wildlife with refuges, sanctuaries, state parks, city parks, nature centers, and scientific areas. It is time we did the same for our waters and fish. II. PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES Activity 1: Identify 12 lightly-used high quality lakes/ river sections, 12 adjoining areas, and 12 highly-used areas for study to determine if the concept of protected areas makes scientific sense in MN. Review existing state fisheries data and travel across Minnesota meeting with MN DNR, TNC biologists, tribal biologists, watershed managers, private citizens, and other stakeholders to identify three types of candidate systems for study: 1) lightly-used systems in great condition (i.e. proxies for protected areas) to see if they might have higher quality and more productive fishes; 2) good quality areas adjoining these lightly protected areas to test spill-over (expansion) effects; and 3) matched areas that are highly-used. Lightly-used areas will have to address all key factors identified by 75 years of study of MPAs and MN fisheries: ecosystem integrity (little development), no AIS, good water quality, low fishing pressure, good enforcement, ecosystem stability. This process will also inventory how many protected sites might be available for the future. BUDGET: $75,000 Outcome / Completion Date 1. Identify lakes and rivers that have can serve as test sites / February 2021 Activity 2: Sample and evaluate fisheries and ecological factors in the three sets of study lakes and rivers. Description: Systematically and intensively sample fish populations (diversity, biomass and size) and ecosystem variables (water clarity and quality, shoreline development, AIS, fishing pressure, etc.) in the 12 lightly used/high quality systems, 12 matched good-quality areas adjoining them (a test of spill-over), and 12 highly used /typical lakes/rivers during each of two open-water seasons. We will use a variety of gear including electrofishing, gill nets, trap-nets angling at each site while assessing water quality and aquatic plants. Fish will be tagged, released and recaptured to assess population size and movement. During the off-season, the age and size structure of fish populations as well as their abundance will be carefully evaluated as will the age at maturity, condition factors, and fecundity. Both game and nongame species will be examined and diversity will be considered, as well as the presence of important native species. We will pay special attention to the presence of large female fish as they carry many more and much higher quality eggs and represent the possible basis of high quality trophy fisheries. The study will coordinate with the DNR fisheries managers but be conducted in greater depth than they typically can manage. Whole ecosystem health and all relevant variables will be evaluated. BUDGET: $325,000 Outcome / Completion Date 1. Sample 6 lightly-used, 6 adjoining and 6 heavily used sites, analyze age and size of fish as well as ecosystem integrity in the off-season / February 2022 2. Sample another 3 sets of 6 sites, analyze data in off season / February2023 Activity 3: Analyze data, publish and report Description: Statistically analyze data, make reports and publish. Present findings to public groups. BUDGET: $99,950 Outcome / Completion Date 1. Analyze, publish and make oral and written reports. / July 2023 III. PROJECT PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS: We will coordinate with individual DNR, watershed district, and tribal biologists to identify sites and analyze them properly. We will also work as a collaborator with the TNC, which is interested in preserving sentinel lakes. IV. LONG-TERM IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING: This project has the potential to protect and enhance significant portions of Minnesota’s waterways and fisheries for many decades. Our long-term strategy will be to use information from this proof-of-concept study to inform a second phase to develop implementation, possibly funded by the LSOHC. Tentatively, we envisage two or more types of protected areas encompassing 5% (200-400) of our waters: 1) Refuges that carefully protect and save fish for future generations (and hatcheries) and that allow catch-release via a few protected access points; 2) Conservation zones that allow some fishing and utilize the spill-over (expansion) concept to generate high-quality trophy fisheries. Other types of areas that address issues such as enjoying aquatic life at local sites could be easily developed in the future. There is still time to save many of our state’s highest quality waters and fisheries.