FOOD NEWS
The Delicious Minnesota State Fish That's At Risk
By Autumn Swiers
Walleye, Minnesota's state fish, are prized for their thick, flaky, white filets, which can be cooked in numerous ways. However, its popularity has caused some trouble.
Since walleye is the most sought-after game fish in the state, it's now overfished and at risk. These threats to the limited population have been decades in the making.
"After a peak yield of 170 tons in 1966, the harvest dropped rapidly to nil in 1972," said the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in 1975. Today, the lakes’ food web is threatened.
Luckily, the Department of Natural Resources set stricter fishing regulations for Minnesota's Mille Lacs Lake in March 2024, including a smaller harvest window.