These are some major…

These are some major concerns I have with the FMZ 11 proposed fishery regulations for the 2020 season as well as concerns with some of the present restrictions in effect for the past number of years.

FMZ 11 Fishery Reg.
LAKE TROUT: Proposal to shorten the season from Sept. 30 to a day after Labour day.
-size limit questionable (s) 2 fish 1 over 40 cm.15 3/4"
(c) 1 fish 0 over 40 cm.
Lake Temagami (s) 2 fish 1 over 45 cm. 17 3/4"
(c) zero greater than 45 cm.
*propose: Open Lake Trout season Jan. 1 to 3rd Sun. in Mar. 2020 then close on Labour day.
proposed size limit very small 40 cm. on most lakes and 45 cm. on Lake Temagami. The Lake Trout 40 and 45 are very small. Raise size limit, we should not be harvesting such a small fish. This is our future stock.

BROOK TROUT:
-Natural Brook Trout lakes should remain as per present regulations
-Brook Trout for additional opportunities (stocked lakes)
-Season open all year (great)
-Limit five fish (s); two fish (c) great
-No size restriction (great)
-No LIVE BAIT -DISAGREE; live bait should be allowed as in the past. Many of the stocked lakes already have sunfish, perch etc. Implementing no live bait is like locking the gate after the horses have escaped.

Walleye:
-Zone 8, 10 and 15 all have 4 fish and 1 fish allowed over 46 cm (18")
-Zone 11 North Bay/Temagami have a slot size No Walleye between 43 cm.to 60 cm. 1 allowed over 60 cm.
-Zone 10 Sudbury, & Zone 8 Temiskaming have a longer season than Zone 11
-Zone 11 have major fishing restrictions in comparison with neighboring FMZ's
-There should be very few or minor variations between Zones 8,10, 11, and 15 as areas are similar
RECOMMEND: Extend the season on walleye until March 31. Also, Recommend either have the neighbouring FMZ's adopt FMZ 11's recommendation or FMZ 11 change to 4 fish and 1 over 46. By
doing this we would create a level playing field between FMZ's which would elevate the Tourism industry in the Temagami area. At present, the different seasons and size limits are drastically affecting Temagami's only economic industry which is Tourism, which affects many businesses such as: Lodges, gas stations, restaurants, and various shops.

NORTHERN PIKE:
-Zone 8, and 10 open all year; and zone 15 Jan. 1 to March 31.
-Zone 11 season is Jan. 1 to 3rd Sunday in March.
-Not a stressed fishery, most persons fishing for Northern Pike fish small lakes
-Zone 11 has a major restriction compared to neighbour FMZ'S
-RECOMMENDATION: Same as Walleye

LARGE & SMALLMOUTH BASS:
-The Bass fishery season will expanded in 2020 which is not a large incentive to the tourism industry.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS STATEMENT:
-PROVIDE DIVERSE WAYS FOR USERS TO EXPERIENCE AND INTERACT WITH RESOURCES AND PROMOTE A FAIR VALUATION OF THE RESOURCES SO THAT THERE IS A BROAD APPRECIATION OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS THE RESOURCES PROVIDE.
NOTE: This statement is very questionable for several reasons:
-1. FMZ 11 has a very suppressed fishery season in comparison to Zone 8, 10 and 15 as to size; limit variations; season; no live bait on stocked lakes etc. These restrictions have a devastating effect within the Temagami area tourist camps as well as many other bussiness such as: gas station, restaurants, grocery store etc. SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE TEMAGAMI AREA ARE VERY QUESTIONABLE. I believe the MNRF should be considering fishery issues AS WELL as Economic impacts to small communities within the FMZ 11 zone or within any other zone within the province. One option that should be considered is splitting Zone 11 into 2 parts e.g. Areas south of Marten River as area (A) and areas north of Marten River as area (B) where minor variations could be applied. Area (A) is closer to the Algonquin area where area (B) is closer to the Temiskaming.

-2. Recommendation: Consideration should be given by MNRF to keep Lake Trout open until Sept. 30th until an equal playing field is reached by neighbouring FMZ'S. Another option could be to open the Lake Trout on Jan. 1 l and to end the 3 Sunday in March. Many Lake Trout are caught early in the season and then released. There was a study in the Temagami area years ago, which showed that many Lake Trout that were caught and put back during the winter did not survive.

-3. A level playing field with surrounding areas of FMZ11 would help the whole NE region prosper if fishery regulations were similar. The differences at present have a dramatic affect on the Temagami area Tourism industry. The MNRF should look at the big picture; a) are the differences between FMZ's that great or science that much different. Who's science is correct??

-4. The season for Walleye and Northern Pike should change from the 3rd Sunday in March to end on a fixed date of March 31. There have been 2 cases in the past number of years where the season closed just prior to the school Spring break which affected the Temagami Tourism economy. Many people who were planning on coming to the Temagami area cancelled their trip due to the fishery regulation closure.

-5. One major factor is that there is a shortage of Conservation Officers to cover all the fishery and animal harvesting issues.

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