Red Lake Fisheries: Return of the Red Lake Walleye

Note: I wrote this back in November 2007. I thought I'd retell the story because many people are unaware or misinformed about the commercial fishery on the Red Lake Reservation. The huge lake is considered sacred by its members, and therefore may only be accessed by Red Lake members and will likely never be used for recreation, although the reservations many other lakes are open to all.

RECAP: RED LAKE FISHERIES RE-OPENED FOUR YEARS AGO NEXT MONTH
COMMERCIAL FISHING RESUMES

Red Lake Fisheries held an open house and dedication ceremony on Monday November 19th, 2007 to celebrate the re-opening and refurbished building in Redby that now employs scores of workers and walleye anglers. A summary of plant improvements, upgrades and costs was provided, followed by a brief tour of the refurbished plant and a walleye feast at Redby Center.

Red Lake DNR Director and Tribal Council Member, Alan Pemberton

“Credit should be given to the USDA for their consultation on the plant improvements and upgrades," said DNR Director and Tribal Council member Al Pemberton.  “They advised us on the non-slip floors, lighting, doors, electrical improvements, and other items. That included repainting of the building, both inside and out, and we’ve got two brand new signs on the premises announcing that we are back in business.”

BRIEF HISTORY OF RED LAKE FISHERIES
Red Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the United States wholly contained within one state. Home of the World Famous Red Lake Walleye, Red Lake Fisheries was the only commercial walleye fishery in the United States. It was also the oldest and largest tribal fishery on the continent.  

Netting Days

The Fishery was established in 1917 under Minnesota law to produce fish as a war time measure during World War I because of a meat shortage. It was established as a co-op in 1929 and operated by Red Lake Tribal members until shut down.

Walleye, perch and northern fillets were available for sale both retail and wholesale, frozen and fresh. During this time the fisheries employed 500 independent fishermen and 40-50 processors.

Walleye populations in Red Lake collapsed in the mid-90’s forcing the closure of the fisheries. Something had to be done, so the Red Lake Band led an effort to bring the walleye back. 

The effort commenced in 1999 with the signing of a ten-year agreement between the Band, the State of Minnesota, and the BIA. Other partners included U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U of M, and the Red Lake Fisheries Association. This effort included a complete moratorium on walleye harvest and a large scale stocking effort.

Although it was uncertain if walleye stocks could actually be recovered, the team succeeded in bringing the walleye back from near extinction to an optimal level in just seven years. Fishing resumed in 2006 under a management plan guided by a team of fishery experts. To ensure the sustainability of the resource, the fishery will not longer be regulated by the Secretary of the Interior, but by the Tribe.

NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FISHING

In 2005, the Red Lake Tribal Council decided to start planning for the reopening of the fisheries. The building and equipment were inspected. It was decided that much of the equipment needed replacement, including both the freezing and cooling systems. The Tribal Council also then has set up new rules and regulations regarding the re-opening of fishing on Red Lake. 

Fishing was basically non-existent over the past few years. In 2006 the limit for walleyes was two, and up to August 2007 it was six. As of September 17th 2007, fishing re-opened only for angling with limits greatly increased. There will be no netting for the foreseeable future.

Subsistence fishers can take up to ten per day with an length limit. Commercial fishers, again only by angling may take up to fifty per day, but there are new controls on commercial fishers in order to better police the resource. Each fisher will check out a numbered red cooler at the fisheries before they go out. 

As of now there are only a handful of people who have taken up commercial fishing for the 180-200 coolers currently available, but it is expected that eventually there may be up to 400 people who will take up the job as people purchase boats and motors, or tune up the old ones long out of use.

THE NEW FISHERIES: HOW IT HAPPENED

Red Lake Chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain, Jr.

Back in early 2007 Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr. met with Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Stanley Crooks. The Shakopee Tribe provided a one million dollar Red Lake Fisheries Rehabilitation Grant for Fiscal Year 2007. Much work was done, but in order to get the plant up and running, the Shakopee tribe then provided another million dollar grant for Fiscal Year 2008.

One new machine added is the grading system, which helps to better serve restaurants. The grading system allows employees to sort by size which is important in the dining industry.

FY ‘07 monies were used to remove the old ammonia based refrigeration, freezing and ice making units with a new, safer and more efficient Freon based system. Other items included a flash freezer, forklift and pallet jacks, the hiring of key personnel, painting in and out and epoxy floors, upgrading water and electric systems, and the purchase of a tub grinder/mixer to grind and compost fish waste generated and use it for fertilizer for the Red Lake wild rice farms.

FY ‘08 monies are being used to buy a delivery truck with refrigeration box, two used 4 X 4 pickups, two boats, motors and trailers, contract services for value added products and kosher certification, smoke house, vacuum sealer, metal detectors, air curtains, money for promotion and more.

Now up and rolling, the plant figures to process up to 15,000 pounds a day and employing 20 people in the processing plant. With the new machines processing will need less workers and should be a bit easier and more efficient.

There are talks going on with the Swampy Cree First Nation in Manitoba to import fish to keep the machines busy.

THE NEW FISHERIES: HOW IT WORKS
One of the first things bought with the Shakopee grant was a 3/4 ton flat bed pick-up truck. This will be used for general use, but also there will be a route set up, so fishers unable to go to Redby would be able to deliver at spots such as the Ponemah ice house.

Once at the Fishery, conveyor systems added will allow the fish to go through the heading machine. The fish then falls on a conveyor that takes it to the fillet machine. After leaving the fillet machine the fish falls onto a new trim table. The processors then trim the remaining bones off the fillet and place the fish on a conveyor that leads to the freezer tunnel.

The freezer tunnel is approximately nine feet high, by nine feet wide and twenty feet long. The tunnel operates by placing fresh trimmed fillets on a moving conveyor that travels inside the length of the tunnel. The tunnel is operated at 35 degrees below zero, with cold air blown directly over the moving conveyor. The freezer tunnel is capable of freezing 1,000 pounds of fillets an hour. Average time to freeze a fillet is 25 minutes, thus giving a superior I.Q.F. (Individual Quick Frozen) product.

The fillets exit the freezer tunnel and fall onto a glazing conveyor. This conveyor has spray bars on the top and bottom to give a uniform glaze.

The fillets then travel to the batch/scale machine. This is an in-motion scale that is able to weigh up to 120 fillets per minute. The fillet moves across the scale, continues down the conveyor until an arm opens up, placing the same size fillets in their appropriate boxes. For example two to four ounce fillets would batch together, four to six ounce, six to eight ounce, etc. This is important for sales to restaurants so their customers receive similar size fillets.

The machine automatically knows when the box has reached the desired weight of 11.5 pounds. This greatly reduces “give-away” weight. It is not uncommon for processors to gain two percent more sellable weight by reducing human error or fatigue. Once extra fillet per box leads to a loss of 15,000 pounds, roughly $100,000 in sales. These figures are based on processing one million pounds of harvest weight per year.

THE FUTURE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RED LAKE NATION FOODS

Red Lake Nation Foods is a growing business on the reservation that employs several people in a variety of capacities. 

Although the fishery operated profitably, much has changed since the fishery closed. The demand for high quality fish has increased, overnight shipping is practical, processing and packaging technology has improved, and sales over the internet have taken off.

These changes provide and opportunity for the Tribe to maximize processing locally, increasing profit potential and providing more jobs for Red Lake members. The Fishery will take advantage of capabilities and networks established through Red Lake Nation Foods, a fledgling but promising business wholly owned by the Tribe. 

Red Lake Nation Foods products include wild rice, syrup, and berry products as well birch bark and other craft items all produced on the Reservation. The addition of fish products will enhance this business. Red Lake Nation Foods will be re-structured to operate as a business entity separate from the Tribal Government.

To ensure long-term viability of the fisheries, things will start off slow, increasing harvest and sales as markets are developed. Red Lake Nation Foods is currently exploring working with the Swampy Cree First Nation of Manitoba, who also do commercial fishing, to process some of their fish in order to make full use of the capabilities of the new plant.

EPILOGUE

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians is excited about the prospects of re-opening the fishery after ten years, and putting the unique and famous Red Lake walleye back on dinner tables and in the restaurants of the world. 

The Band is also excited about the opportunities that an expanded Red Lake Nation Foods business brings to market Red Lake walleye and other natural foods and crafts. These businesses are consistent with Red Lake culture, and have great potential to provide a solid future of economic development, employment for Red Lake members, and achieving the Tribe’s goal of economic self sufficiency.