Having worked on two other Great Lakes—Huron and Michigan—Brandon Byrne feels fortunate to live along the south shore of what he describes as “the greatest lake” Gichigami, or Lake Superior.
Byrne’s interests include the life history and population dynamics of ogaa (walleye), as well as the ecology and conservation of native non-game fishes like meskwaazhigwaneshiwag (redhorses) and namebinag (suckers). During his free time, Byrne enjoys capturing the landscapes and critters of the western Great Lakes through a camera lens, playing the guitar, and exploring the region on two wheels—both motorized and non-motorized.
At the Commission, Byrne coordinates the Inland Fisheries Section's annual spring and fall assessments of ogaa and other populations of giigoonyag (fishes) throughout the Ceded Territories. Byrne earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology and master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.