New smelt consumption advisory for Lake Superior
Elevated levels of PFAs found in rainbow smelt.
Extent of the outbreak won’t be known until a summer smelt population survey, but Game and Fish isn’t overly worried.
They are the subject of tighter fishing regulations than a few years ago — and fishermen say that seems to be helping the little fish rebound in some areas.
Mild winter last year produced hardly any smelt, but the ice has been thick enough for fishing and smelt have been abundant this winter.
Saturday’s short season was intended to serve as research fishery, but also to keep a minimal connection between the public and once-plentiful species.