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June 09, 2025
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has issued Pinconning-based Serafin Fish Company a commercial fishing license for lake whitefish in southern Lake Huron from the port of Harbor Beach.
This license mirrors the prior research permit issued to Lixey Fish Company (now doing business as Serafin Fish Company) in 2015 through 2022. During the research period, DNR personnel monitored and evaluated the catch and health of southern Lake Huron whitefish populations, as well as determined the long-term potential of a sustainable and profitable commercial whitefish fishery in the area. Those efforts demonstrated the sustainability of managing a whitefish fishery in the Harbor Beach area.
The license is being issued in conjunction with a settlement term in Serafin et al v DNR et al, a federal suit on appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and reflects the parties’ pre-litigation agreement to move one commercial fishing license from Saginaw Bay to the new port and retire three other commercial fishing licenses in Saginaw Bay.
The new Harbor Beach license is authorized to fish up to 10 large mesh trap nets for lake whitefish and other legal commercial fish species. Going forward, area recreational fishers and boaters are asked to watch for and avoid these nets while on the water; some nets have already been set, and additional nets will likely be set in the coming weeks. Though commercial fishing activity is weather-dependent and usually occurs between April and December, commercial fishing nets may be legally set and fished all 12 months of the year.
For more information on this fishery, including a map of the fishing grounds, net locations and pictures of the net markings, visit michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/fisheries/business/commercial/harbor-beach-fishery.
