Tribal fishermen to provide better net markings
Mayor Beach Hall reported to the Harbor Advisory Committee Monday morning that a meeting attended by Bay Mills and Sault tribal fishermen, lawyers, DNR representatives, along with Harbor Advisory members Dick Peacock, Jack Smitka, Joe Signorelli, and Hall ?netted? some staisfying results.
?It was a quiet, smooth meeting,? Hall said. ?They agreed to remark their nets and provide (RC harbomaster) Ken Rasche with net coordinates.? The improved markings will include two flags and smaller floats with a foam-type non-collapsible marker as a condition to their fishing permits.
?It was nice to be face-to-face with the two brothers (who are fishermen),? Smitka said. ?The lawyers kept very quiet and everyone was very cooperative.? Smitka said they had wanted to put their boats into the Rogers City Harbor, but he told them that would just not work out. Calcite Harbor has been looked at with about $5,000 per year in docking fees, or about double the Rogers City Harbor fee.
?Jim Ekdahl (DNR representative) thought it was a good meeting,? Smitka reported. Hall said the fishermen stressed it would be most helpful that other fishermen not stop alongside and gawk when they are lifting their nets. The tribal fishermen also will be providing educational materials for the public.
?We stressed that we needed to know the coordinates and orientation with a flag at both ends,? Smitka added. ?They will be fishing deeper this year (because of fish location).
IN OTHER business: ?The Committee approved a request from Great Lakes Professional Angling Association (GLPAA)
?Seasonal slip payments have reached 56 out of 72 so far, according to Rasche.
?A new harbor raft has arrived and will be launched in the spring. It will provide a safe platform for city workers to perform their tasks.
?A new harbor reservation system underwent discussion, with much negative input about feasibility for the Rogers City Harbor. A proposed contract went unsigned and undecided upon.
?Rasche is not optimistic about the summer season, due to the economic uncertainty and high gas prices that may affect boaters.
The next Harbor Advisory meeting will be April 14 at 8 a.m.