Climate Change at Isle Royale: Edisen Fishery

Fishing has always been, and still is, a part of the human experience on Isle Royale. Throughout history, commercial fishing was Isle Royale’s longest running industry. Today, there are many visible remnants of the island’s commercial fishing era throughout the park.

A well-known piece of Isle Royale’s fisheries is the historic fishhouse and dock at the Edisen Fishery. Built in 1900, these facilities served as the livelihood for the operation. Today, the Edisen Fishery is preserved and open to the public as a historical landmark. However, the fishery’s location in Rock Harbor Channel leaves it at the mercy of Lake Superior’s weathering.

Edisen Fishery is low lying on the Lake Superior shoreline, leaving the facilities vulnerable to the elements.

Nelson Decker

Climate Concerns

Between 2013 and 2019, Lake Superior water levels rose three feet. Warming waters, which increase air temperature, have also led to greater storm severity. The combination of higher water levels and more frequent severe storms increases the risk of damage to any structures along the Lake Superior shoreline.

During the winter of 2017-2018, Edisen Fishery sustained damage from ice floats battering the dock in the wake of strong storm surges.

Bottom Line

Edisen Fishery is an opportunity for visitors to become immersed in Isle Royale’s commercial fishing history. As the climate changes, rising water levels and more frequent severe storms could cause Edisen Fishery, and other historic structures, to become damaged or inaccessible, and a tangible connection with the island’s past could be lost.

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