Notice to boaters: possible salmon nets on northern Lake Huron

>From the beginning of August through the end of October, boaters in northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron should be aware of the possible presence of tribal commercial salmon fishing nets. During their recreational boating and fishing activities, boaters should exercise extreme caution during low-light or bad weather conditions when navigating this area, stated a press release from Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA).

Posters depicting what the nets look like, the general areas where they could be set, and contact numbers for help have been posted. Each net has large orange floats that are six-inches by 14 inches spaced at intervals of 300 feet or less. The license number of the tribal fisher is on the net. Net ends are marked with staffs five feet in length above the water surface, colored with at least 50 percent reflective orange coloring and a 12-inch by 12-inch orange flag on top. According to officials with the Rogers City marina, there are reportedly no nets in the waters of Lake Huron near Rogers City.

One commercial angler who had been docked at Calcit

e sought better fishing conditions, so when a slip became available along Rockport, he decided to take advantage of it. CORA still strongly recommends that boaters navigate around the nets they encounter, rather than between the staff buoys set at net ends. These salmon nets may be set at the surface and are composed of thick twine. Fishers from the Bay Mills Indian Community, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Little Traverse Bay Band are all required to uniformly mark their nets in the manner mentioned.

For more information contact CORA Acting executive director Jane TenEyck at 906-632-0043, or see www.1836cora.org.