-For Immediate Release-
July 25, 2025
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission conservation wardens are investigating the report of a gillnet recovered by an angler in Mille Lacs Lake in east-central Minnesota on July 24. While the Commission understands the ghost net contained a number of fish, it does not impact the health of the lake’s fishery and each fish from the net are applied to the Ojibwe band’s harvest quota. GLIFWC is thankful the net did not cause harm to recreational or subsistence fishers. Off-reservation fishing, hunting, and gathering is regulated by conservation codes for Ojibwe tribal citizens harvesting in the Minnesota 1837 Ceded Territory. Code violations may result in fines or revocation of harvest rights. This is an ongoing investigation. GLIFWC is an intertribal agency that assists 11 Ojibwe member bands in natural resources stewardship, conservation law enforcement, and biological assessment services in the Ceded Territories of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. For more information see glifwc.org.