Red Lake Fishery

This blog was written by Isabella Ruiz, a second year sustainability and public health major. 

When thinking of the Red Lake Nation, we’re not sure if people think about walleye, but the walleye fish population is among one of the most abundant fish on the reservation in Red Lake.   We got the opportunity to visit the Red Lake Nation Fishery, where those who live on the reservation can bring in fish to be processed either for themselves and their families or to be sold as part of a commercial flash-frozen wild-caught walleye.  The fish are brought in and sorted before being fileted by hand by a group of extremely skilled employees.  It is then washed, descaled and then flash frozen, before it is packaged.  This stands as a vast economic opportunity by not only offering jobs within the fishery, but also as a way to earn money through fishing, a trade that has always belonged in the Ojibwe.  The fishery not only benefits the economy, but the bag limit for Walleye speaks to the health of the ecosystem of Red Lake.  While overall, the state of Minnesota has a bag limit of 6 Walleye or Sauger combined, Red Lake residents can fish up to 150 Walleyes.  The population is managed between the nation and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, but the abundance in Red Lake is clear.

We can’t wait for our opportunity to try Red Lake Walleye.

Group picture in front of the fishery