Lake Trout Refuges - Institute for Fisheries Research (IFR)

The Lake Trout Refuges dataset, developed by the Institute for Fisheries Research (IFR) within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, delineates specific areas in Michigan waters of the Great Lakes that are closed to the taking, keeping, or sport fishing of lake trout. These refuge boundaries are established based on coordinates outlined in Fisheries Order 200 (FO‑200), the statewide regulation governing trout, salmon, whitefish, lake herring, and smelt fisheries. Core Purpose & Regulatory Context These designated refuges serve to protect lake trout populations by prohibiting harvest within spatially defined zones. The closure areas support conservation goals by safeguarding spawning habitats and promoting natural population recovery. Refuge Coverage & Geographic Extent There are four lake trout refuges identified across Michigan’s Great Lakes waters: Lake Michigan – North Part Lake Michigan – Mid Lake Lake Huron – Mid Lake Lake Huron – North End These refuge polygons are overlaid on the standardized Great Lakes shoreline and state boundary layers consistent with IFR’s Great Lakes grid v3.3. Data Structure & Accessibility The dataset is a publicly available polygon feature layer, accessible through the ArcGIS feature service“IFR MI Lake Trout Refuges (ID:7)”. Each refuge polygon includes attributes such as: Name (identifying refuge zone), Centroid coordinates (CENTROIDX, CENTROIDY), Spatial metrics (area and perimeter), Administrative metadata (e.g., creation and editing date/user). The layer’s most recent data update was on December 23, 2025, with the metadata last revised on August 12, 2026. Utilization & Application Resource managers, researchers, and regulatory staff use this spatial dataset to: Guide enforcement of lake trout fishery protections in compliance with FO‑200. Support GIS mapping for fisheries management planning and habitat monitoring. Inform anglers, boating communities, and outreach materials regarding closed areas. Integration with other IFR datasets and grid systems ensures consistent cartographic representation across spatial analysis platforms. Data Limitations Provided“as is”, without warranties or guarantees concerning accuracy or completeness. Users should confirm boundary details and regulation status with the Michigan DNR’s Fisheries Division or official regulatory texts (Fisheries Order 200). As a public record, the dataset is available for use and redistribution. Users must determine legal suitability for any specific applications. By formalizing refuge zones for lake trout through geographic polygons, this IFR dataset supports conservation-driven, spatially explicit management of Michigan’s Great Lakes fisheries. It acts as an authoritative map resource for regulatory enforcement, research, and public education efforts aimed at protecting critical habitats and sustaining lake trout populations.湖红点鲑保护区数据集（Lake Trout Refuges dataset）由密歇根州自然资源部下属的渔业研究所（Institute for Fisheries Research, IFR）开发，划定了密歇根州大湖水域内禁止捕捞、留存或游钓湖红点鲑的特定区域。保护区边界依据《渔业令第200号》（Fisheries Order 200, FO-200）中载明的坐标设定，该全州性法规管控鳟鱼、鲑鱼、白鱼、湖鲱及胡瓜鱼的渔业活动。 核心目标与监管背景 上述指定保护区通过在空间划定区域内禁止捕捞，以保护湖红点鲑种群。禁捕区域通过保护产卵栖息地（spawning habitats）、促进种群自然恢复，助力渔业保护目标的实现。 保护区覆盖范围与地理分布 密歇根州大湖水域内共划定4处湖红点鲑保护区，分别为：密歇根湖北部水域、密歇根湖中部水域、休伦湖中部水域以及休伦湖北端水域。所有保护区多边形图层（polygon feature layer）均叠加于标准化大湖岸线与州界图层之上，与IFR的大湖网格v3.3（Great Lakes grid v3.3）标准保持一致。 数据结构与可访问性 本数据集为公开可用的多边形要素图层（polygon feature layer），可通过ArcGIS要素服务（ArcGIS Feature Service）“IFR密歇根湖红点鲑保护区（ID：7）”获取。每个保护区多边形包含以下属性字段：保护区名称（用于标识保护区分区）、质心坐标（CENTROIDX、CENTROIDY）、空间度量指标（spatial metrics，包括面积与周长）以及管理元数据（administrative metadata，如创建与编辑日期、操作用户）。该图层最新数据更新时间为2025年12月23日，元数据（metadata）最后修订时间为2026年8月12日。 应用场景与使用范围 资源管理者、科研人员与监管人员可利用该空间数据集开展以下工作： 1. 依据FO-200法规，指导湖红点鲑渔业保护执法工作； 2. 为渔业管理规划与栖息地监测提供GIS制图支持； 3. 向垂钓者、船舶运营群体及宣传材料提供禁捕区域相关信息； 4. 与IFR其他数据集及网格系统集成后，可确保空间分析平台间的制图表达一致性。 数据局限性 本数据集按“现状”提供，不对其准确性与完整性作出任何明示或默示担保。用户应向密歇根州DNR渔业部门或官方法规文本（《渔业令第200号》）核实边界细节与法规状态。作为公共档案，本数据集可被使用与再分发，但用户需自行确认特定应用场景下的法律合规性。 通过地理多边形形式明确湖红点鲑保护区分区，本IFR数据集为密歇根州大湖渔业的保护导向型空间精细化管理（spatially explicit management）提供了有力支撑。该数据集可作为权威地图资源，用于监管执法、科研及公众教育工作，以保护关键栖息地、维持湖红点鲑种群的可持续存续。