Lake Char Preparing for Survey

The Lake Char has been preparing this week for its spring surveys throughout Lake Superior. The boat is a DNR operated research vessel that conducts surveys of fish populations in Lake Superior from Isle Royale along the coast to Grand Marais. The crew will survey details of fish populations such as diet, reproduction and weight. Captain Kevin Rathbun of the DNR research vessel Lake Char says the survey is very important to the ecosystem of Lake Superior.

Once the crew on the Lake Char finish their spring survey they will almost immediately begin work preparing their summer survey. This is due to the delay in getting the vessel in the water due to Lake Superior’s prolonged ice cover.

The boat is scheduled to depart either Friday or Monday, at which point it will travel to Isle Royale, then circle back to Houghton, eventually coming through Marquette and Grand Marais.