Public session is now searched for a proposal which will change fishing rules in Fisheries Administration Zone (FMZ) 15.
A 171-page Fisheries Administration Plan posted by the Ministry of Pure Sources and Forestry (MNRF) to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) on Sept. 29 is open for evaluation and remark till 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 28.
The doc outlines technique, potential administration actions, and proposes rules for chilly, cool, and warmwater fish species within the area, with the concentrate on defending the zone’s pure lake and brook trout populations.
Defending pure brookies
The plan proposes conservation sport fishing rules in waters in FMZ 15 that maintain pure populations of brook trout. They embrace:
- Altering the season in these waters to the fourth Saturday in April to September 30, which eliminates winter fishing.
- Each day limits of two with a Sport Fishing Licence and one with a Conservation Fishing Licence.
- A prohibition on the use and possession of stay bait in designated prime brook trout waters.
- A prohibition of the usage of stay fish as bait on high-value and high-risk pure trout waters and waters that stream into Algonquin Park.
“The elimination of winter fishing zone-wide will defend populations on the time that they’re most susceptible to exploitation and the decrease catch restrict will cut back open water harvest,” the draft states. “The intent is that by maximizing the standard of the open water fishery, it could cut back the chance of intentional introductions of different sport fish species that compete with brook trout.”
Yr-round brookies
Yr-round brook trout fishing alternatives will nonetheless exist in stocked lakes through exceptions within the rules. These lakes can have each day limits of 5 with a sport licence and two with a conservation licence and also will be stocked with genetically acceptable strains of brook trout to divert stress from lakes the place brook trout reproduce naturally.
Defending pure lakers
The plan additionally proposes administration modifications for lake trout, calling it the “keystone species” of FMZ 15 — considered one of three areas within the province with a excessive focus of lakes that assist native lake trout populations.
Among the many proposed modifications:
Small, pure lake trout lakes below 500 hectares might be designated as small- or large-bodied lakes, relying on the dimensions of fish inside them.
- They’ll have minimal measurement limits of 40 and 50 cm, respectively.
- The brand new season for both class might be from the third Saturday in Could to Labour Day, which eliminates winter fishing in these lakes.
- Each day catch limits of two for a sport licence and one for a conservation licence.
Giant, pure lake trout lakes over 500 hectares might be designated as small- and large-bodied lakes, relying on the dimensions of fish inside them.
- They’ll have minimal measurement limits of 40 and 50 cm, respectively.
- Their winter seasons might be shortened opening on the Saturday earlier than Household Day to the third Sunday in March and third Saturday in Could to Labour Day.
- Just one line could also be used by the ice on these lakes.
Yr-round lake trout alternatives
Exceptions within the rules will present stocked lake trout lakes that might be open year-round. They’ll have:
- Each day catch limits of two for a sport licence and one for a conservation licence.
- No minimal measurement restrict.
- Two traces permitted for ice fishing.
Different fish
Proposed modifications on different species embrace:
- Decreasing each day limits for whitefish to 4 with a sport licence and two with a conservation licence.
- Closing the dip-netting seasons for herring and whitefish within the 18 waterbodies within the FMZ the place it exists.
- Bass seasons to start per week earlier within the third Saturday of June and lengthen to December 15.
- A walleye harvestable slot measurement of 40-50 cm, with some exceptions.
- Within the jap portion of the WMU, a number of water our bodies will preserve a 50 cm minimal walleye measurement restrict.
- Lake Muskoka can have a 40 to 55 cm harvestable slot measurement restrict.
- Put/develop/take walleye stocking will not happen in FMZ 15.
- Rainbow trout, brown trout, or splake is not going to be stocked into lakes managed as pure lake trout or brook trout populations.
- Splake stocking might be thought-about on a put, develop, take foundation in particular waterbodies to divert effort from pure brook and lake trout lakes.
The ministry developed the draft plan in session with the FMZ 15 Advisory Council, comprised of First Nation and Métis communities, native anglers, the tourism sector, environmental non-government organizations, native enterprise representatives, cottage associations, and most people.
FMZ 15 stretches from Georgian Bay to the Ottawa River and contains Parry Sound, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, Minden, Haliburton, Whitney, Bancroft, Deep River, Petawawa, and Pembroke.
