Our Approach

Walleye Restoration Foundation, Inc. approach to restore our fisheries resources is ecological. Our sports fishery is in trouble, our walleye fishery is collapsing, and this most recognized and studied fish can lead the way to restoration. Here’s how!

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Making corrections in conservation management practices that have caused the documented failed recruitment of walleye especially in their first year of life in Northwoods of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.

  • We recognize nature has created conditions for sustainable fish populations and our fisheries management needs a new approach to restoration that reflects this.
  • We understand how our fish hatcheries developed and how they are operated. A drastic change is needed in the hatchery operation to support and restore their contribution to the fishable population.
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Developing and implementing practices in lakes and waterways to restore healthy fisheries will make improvements in water quality.

  • Develop plans to restore structural habitat that human changes in lake ecosystems have caused, e.g., shoreline development and barriers to fish movement.
  • Making connections between collected water quality data and fish productivity. Streamline and adapt fishery regulations to specific water bodies to reflect and utilize the nutrients available channeling them into harvestable fish.
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Education of sportsmen, legislators, fishing and sporting goods industry suppliers, natural resource personnel/ students, lake dwellers/ educators, and the public to support and be partners in the above activities.

  • Active environmental education focused on the interactions of fish species and their habitat life histories applied to a process that will lead to restored and preserved habitat.
  • Provide educational displays at lake and sportsman events that make connections between habitat restoration and sustainable fisheries with proper walleye management as the poster fish.
  • Actively promote through media and digital education an understanding of the ecological connections that can be used in the better management of our fisheries and water resources.