Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Research

Dr. Patrick Schmalz

Fisheries Research Lead, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Abstract

Efforts to conserve natural resources in Minnesota date back to the late 1800s. The Minnesota Department of Conservation was created in 1931 by the Minnesota Legislature as the fist agency charged with protecting the state’s resources (changed to Department of Natural Resources in 1971). Research by Department fisheries staff began shortly thereafter, and the first agency fisheries research report was published in 1938. Minnesota DNR has published approximately 600 internal investigational reports and 350 peer-reviewed publications. The Fisheries Research Unit’s purpose is to conduct applied research that informs fisheries management in Minnesota. We accomplish that with researchers distributed geographically across the state embedded in six area fisheries offices. In addition, the DNR Fisheries Research Unit works collaboratively with other agencies and universities that add much valued expertise. My presentation will describe a little of the Unit’s history, structure, staff, and collaborations.