Walleye Fishery Crisis

MNR must act now and suspend commercial gill net fishing

PETERBOROUGH, ON, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) is calling on the provincial government to immediately suspend commercial gill net walleye fishing on Lake Nipissing. The OFAH is basing its recommendation on data provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), which recently commissioned an independent review of the status of the Lake Nipissing walleye fisheries and asked the OFAH to provide comment. OFAH biologists have concluded that the walleye population has suffered dramatic declines over the past decade due to unregulated commercial gill net fishing.
"Lake Nipissing, one of Ontario's specially designated waters, has seen its walleye fisheries virtually collapse. The MNR has the authority and responsibility to manage our natural resources for the benefit of all Ontarians, and yet they have allowed overharvesting by commercial gill net operations to continue unregulated for more than a decade," said Dr. Terry Quinney, Provincial Manager of Fish and Wildlife Services.

Since 1999 increasing restrictions have been imposed on recreational anglers such as shorter seasons, lower limits and a protected slot size, in which they've complied with in an effort to help stabilize and restore the walleye population. Despite this, recreational harvest levels in recent years are at an all time low.
Although MNR biologists repeatedly indicated that there was reason for grave concern, the province ignored its own science and failed to implement a fully regulated commercial walleye regime, which has allowed the situation to reach to crisis proportions.

"Until the provincial government suspends all commercial gill net operations and implements enforceable regulations, their own data tells us that the Lake Nipissing walleye population will not begin to recover. The problem is not the recreational fishery. The problem is, and continues to be unregulated commercial gill netting," said Quinney.

Absolutely back that entire write up, but there is not a government in all of Canada that will go up against the Indians (right to poach every last fish).

I would think it would be easier to either boycott the sellers (identify where/how it was caught) or make it illegal to buy from them.

I am happy to hear that announcement.......the enforcement of same is a another issue.

we can only hope that it will be rigid

I have NEVER bought a fish from the natives!! and NEVER WILL!!!! I enjoy my days out going fishing, this year I have done quite well (fench friver area near mouth of nipissing) most of the fish have been keepers, and only a few have been caught in the slot and thrown back. If the natives want their right to hunt and fish as their tradions are.. then maybe they should be using NATIVE made birch bark Canoes, and deer hide clothing, home made nets / spears. and do it the TRADIONAL native way, and not use any "white man" resourses EI motor boats and such!!! PERIOD!!! and only do it for their reserve to eat, and not to be selling (TAX FREE) to fish stores!! THIS IS BULL crap

So iff you're buying perch or walleye at a grocery store in North Bay would that fish have been caught by the natives in a net? Not that I ever have but Just curious.

This will be a real challenge for the MNR to regulate but like shank said - I hope they will be vigilant! I heard rumors of a possible full winter closed on the lake. A ridiculous solution to a larger issue.

Ya Jayray......heard the same thing sometime ago. Now wouldn't that be a wonderfull thing.....close the ice fishing to save the fishery....not a chance.

we can shut everything down and it will not make a differene as long as unregulated netting continues......that is the singlemost factor on the waleye decline and it's been well known for years.

If the white man keeps buying the fish they will never stop netting. I personally will not support a restaurant that sells Lake Nipissing walleye dinners!!

Here is another article
c/p from the North Bay Nugget
Local municipal leaders say the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters was out of line when it called for a commercial gill net ban on Lake Nipissing.

OFAH said the walleye fishery is in “crisis” and the Ministry of Natural Resources has allowed it to happen despite data indicating walleye stocks are at their lowest point in decades.

“I was saddened by OFAH's media release,” North Bay Mayor Al McDonald said Thursday. “I believe it unfairly criticizes both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Nipissing First Nation.”

McDonald also said OFAH's decision to call the situation a crisis will hurt the area financially.

“I'm actually hearing the fishing is good this year. I honestly believe their media release will harm tourism in our area,” he said.

Nipissing First Nation started managing its native commercial with community bylaws regulating harvest quotas and methods seven years ago. It has imposed a moratorium on gill netting during the spring spawn, sanctioned members caught breaching it and funds fishery research and enforcement.

OFAH said Lake Nipissing has seen its walleye fishery virtually collapse and “the problem is not the recreational fishery. The problem is, and continues to be unregulated commercial gill netting,” said Terry Quinney, an OFAH manager.

Callander Mayor Hec Lavigne came to the defence of Nipissing First Nation, adding it's policing its fishermen more than the province is policing recreational anglers.

“I think they deserve some respect from OFAH for what they've done . . . nobody polices the other fishermen,” Lavigne said.

OFAH made its comments in a media release Tuesday based on the MNR review of walleye data between 1967 and 2011.

Estimates of walleye abundance peaked in the 1980s at about 400,000 kilograms, while estimates this past decade have declined by half.

Communities and stakeholders around Lake Nipissing dependent on the estimated $130-million in economic impact of the lake participated in a summit conference this spring.

Organized by Nipissing First Nation and hosted by Nipissing University, all types of ecological and harvest issues were discussed with presentations by officials and scientists. The MNR did not address the fishery.

A summary of the MNR review of historical data showed the human harvest target of 66,000 kg, which includes commercial and recreational efforts, is unsustainable at the current abundance estimates.

“Although there have been other ecosystem changes, such as the colonization of Lake Nipissing by double-crested cormorants and the spiny water flea, fishing has placed the walleye population in a vulnerable state,” the review states.

The MNR created an advisory committee last month to develop recommendations to address the decline of walleye.

“With the help of local anglers, stakeholders, First Nations and fisheries experts, we will develop solutions to help this socially and economically important fishery rebound,” the review states

The committee met Thursday, but participants were asked to keep discussions confidential.

“The group is very engaged,” First Nation's Dwayne Nashkawa said during the lunch break. “There are a lot of issues that have to be discussed.”

McDonald and Lavigne both said the impact of the cormorants should be taken seriously.

McDonald said the 50 nests found on islands in Lake Nipissing in the early 1990s have multiplied to more than 2,000.

And he said scientists have estimated colonies that size can eat more than 100,000 kg of fish annually, with walleye part of their diet.

“We have to look at all threats and what can be done,” said Lavigne, adding that restocking programs such as the ones in the South Shore and Nipissing First Nation should be expanded.

Lavigne said the MNR doesn't support restocking as a viable or effective option, but he said the walleye in Nipissing are the result of stocking.

The native blue walleye in Lake Nipissing were fished out more than 80 years ago and yellow walleye were introduced.

dave.dale@sunmedia.ca

Interesting read. So too ban winter fishing and not ###### off all the resorts and anglers there needs to be a Quid pro quo (discussed internally of coarse) what will the Indians have to give up also is the discussions going on. (just speculation)

I don't blame the MNR, its 80% Mcguinty and 20% Harper. The MNR is not given a budget they can work with and all the BS Treaty's hand cuff them.

Its going to take all the walleye stock to disappear for any of the "people" to get off there arse and do something


IMHO

Just received this today, as its pertinent to this thread i have attached it.

Thanks for posting that! Can you please post their web address when it is up and running. Thanks Deluxe.

Jayray

Wasn't there already a collective stakeholder group established over 10 years ago..to disuss and create plas for this ver same issue and it eventually just collapsed?

It's great to create groups and come up with "mission statements etc" Makes it sound like everyone has a say and things will get done.
i hope it works, but this sounds like a very long haul before anything concrete happens.

I know some of this group pretty well and trust them to work hard at this. You gotta start somewhere. I hope it works as well and I agree it will be a long haul. I believe they have the right intentions and am glad they're trying something.

Agreed JayRay.

Hi all! First I must say I have been fishing Lake Nipissing since I was 5 years old and absolutely love it!!! But anyways I remember the time when there was no slot and fishing was fishing and yes my family got their limit everyday! We wouldn't keep any small walleyes and the biggest walleye I ever caught was 221/2 inches not bad being only 19 at the time. But now I have been reading all of these forums and must say when did politics control having fun or even just fishing? Yes I know about the netting happened for years even before the slot. Don't get me wrong I think the slot is a good idea because people at times can be greedy but that's why there are two different license's that you can get. This lake is very special too me and my family I know politics out of the way of family fun and the walleye will do the rest. For years when man didn't try too control things fish and animals always bounced back and even more than before! For the sake of the future families and mine that enjoy fishing at Lake Nipissing STOP the political bull and enjoy what GOD has given you!

So should ofah's findings be ignored? I to have been fishing this lake for a long time and it is very special to my family as well. No matter what fishing license you have you can't keep a slot fish which I think is a good thing.

We all want a healthy lake. I'm just glad there are people that care enough about it that are trying to make a difference. Ignoring the problem will not solve it. I agree, I want to continue to enjoy what I call "God's country"