Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Lake Nipissing Fishing Regulation changes for 2013

Ontario Fishing Regulation Changes for 2013

The Ontario MNR is a broken organization.

The MNR had their final meeting on December 11, 2012 to share their decision on what they are going to do to strengthen the Walleye fishery on Lake Nipissing.


Over 40 hours of data was shared identifying the current state of the adult Walleye population and discussed possible solutions for the looming crises. The MNR had their biologist show data plotted on graph identifying that a reduction in the take limits would have no positive impact on the Walleye Fishery.  The MNR’s solution to the crisis on Lake Nipissing’s Walleye population, you guessed it, reduce the take limits on the Sports fishery from 4 Walleye to 2.

The results of this year’s Fall Walleye Index Netting, (FWIN) indicate another strong year class of Walleye.  When questioned regarding where these young Walleye are coming from, the MNR’s answer was “we have no idea”

The advisory committee was told that the MNR would not be making additional changes to the Sports Fishing Regulations until January 2015.

The MNR made no announcement regarding any reduction to the Commercial Fishery.

Several of the stakeholders asked to participate on the Advisory Committee, were very disappointed with the process suggesting the MNR already knew what they wanted prior to selecting the advisory committee and used the advisory committee to satisfy the public that stakeholders participated in the decision making process.

The Lake Nipissing Stakeholders Association is starting a petition to have this unfortunate decision overturned.