Once nearly wiped out from Lake Superior, native lake trout have made a remarkable comeback — a milestone decades in the making and one that experts say offers a blueprint for collaborative conservation success.
“This is an incredible success story,” said Bill Mattes, chair of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. “It was made possible by widespread coordination across tribal, state and federal governments.”
Lake trout populations in Lake Superior collapsed in the mid-1900s, devastated by overfishing and predation from invasive sea lampreys. By 1964, commercial harvests had fallen from four million pounds annually to just 210,000 pounds. In some regions, sea lampreys were killing 90 percent of the lake trout before they could reproduce.
Team effort
“This didn’t happen because of one group,” said David Caroffino, vice chair of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “Michigan didn’t do this. The federal government didn’t do this. The tribes didn’t do this. It was all of us — together — over decades.”
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Great Lakes Fishery CommissionThe work has included sea lamprey control led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, extensive annual surveys by the DNR’s Marquette research station, and hatchery stocking programs run by both state and tribal agencies. In the 1990s, natural reproduction improved enough that stocking could be scaled back — a turning point in the recovery.
Still, sea lamprey remain a serious threat.
“In many parts of Lake Superior, sea lamprey kill more lake trout than fishermen do,” Caroffino said. “Controlling them is still our biggest hurdle.”
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission oversees lamprey suppression using targeted treatments in tributaries and ongoing monitoring across the basin.
Tribal leadership
Tribal nations have played a central role in restoring and managing lake trout stocks. Austin Lowes, chairman of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, said Anishinaabe teachings about planning for seven generations into the future have guided the tribe’s work.
“Being good stewards starts with ecosystem-based management,” Lowes said. “We have to consider how today’s actions affect tomorrow’s fishery.”
The Sault Tribe co-manages lake trout in the 1836 Treaty Waters, working alongside state and federal agencies to enforce quotas, monitor harvests and guide restoration strategies. The tribe is also leading efforts like the Lake Whitefish Initiative, which seeks to reintroduce whitefish into rivers and streams where they were historically present.
“Atikameg [lake whitefish] are the cornerstone of the Sault Tribe commercial fishery,” Lowes said. “The recovery of lake trout directly benefits whitefish and, by extension, our fishers.”
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Michigan DNRMattes emphasized the ecological role lake trout play as a keystone predator. Their resurgence helps regulate invasive rainbow smelt populations, which prey on the eggs and fry of native species.
“They help protect other fish just by being in the system,” Mattes said. “Even sea lamprey benefit — they’re now preying on lake trout instead of other more vulnerable species.”
Harvest and habitat
State rules currently prohibit commercial harvest of lake trout by non-tribal fishers, though recreational anglers can still catch them under strict bag limits. Tribal fishers operate under negotiated agreements and must adhere to tightly managed quotas.
With lake trout now abundant, commercial interest has grown — though market challenges remain.
“There’s so much trout in the lake right now, it’s crazy,” Mattes said. “Our fishermen were catching so much they had to release it because buyers only wanted whitefish.”
The recovery has prompted discussions about rebalancing harvest regulations and expanding market access, but those decisions are tied closely to ongoing population assessments and ecosystem monitoring.
Looking ahead
The Lake Superior fishery is now managed under a comprehensive state plan that prioritizes native species while recognizing the presence of introduced ones. The Lake Superior Committee believes current trout populations meet the 2003 fish community objectives — with lean trout dominant nearshore, siscowet in the deep water, and humper trout in eastern zones and around Isle Royale.
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The first recorded lake trout rehabilitation effort began in 1958 on Mosquito Creek. Nearly 70 years later, the results are in.
“This wasn’t easy. It wasn’t fast,” Caroffino said. “But it worked — and it proves that with the right partnerships, long-term recovery is possible.”
Jennifer Champagne is an accomplished entertainment + visual effects writer with a passion for storytelling. When she’s not crafting articles on industry giants, you’ll find her enjoying life with her family and their three crazy golden retriever floofs at home in middle earth.