This consultation was open from:
June 22, 2015
to August 6, 2015
Decision summary
We have developed a Stocking Plan for the waters of Lake Superior that provides guidance and direction for future stocking activities.
Decision details
A decision was made on April 23, 2019 by the Manager of the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit to proceed with the proposal as described in the June 2015 posting. The document was subjected to minor changes which are outlined below as a result of consultation with the public, a variety of groups including the Fisheries Management Zone 9 Council and a number of Indigenous communities. The direction of the document has not changed and no major policy changes were made as a result of consultation. Edits made to the Plan include; limit stocking of Chinook Salmon in Lake Superior to 120,000 fish per year and a detailed assessment plan for the Kamanistiquia River and Whitefish River. The Stocking Plan for Ontario Waters of Lake Superior is consistent with the direction defined in the approved Lake Superior Fish Community Objectives and Ontario’s Provincial Fish Strategy.
Effects of consultation
The comments received generally expressed support for continued stocking in Lake Superior. Some comments expressed concerns with continued stocking and some requested cessation. Some comments suggested the need for elaboration or clarification on certain sections of the document. Overall, public consultation resulted in the following edits or changes being make in the document:
- Additional information was provided on what happens if the goals and objectives are not met. This included altering the number of allowable gametes to be collected as well as stocking locations. This is part of an adaptive management process where progress toward reaching these goals and objectives are monitored through assessment throughout the duration of the Plan.
- Concerns regarding the risks of removing gametes from a wild population are addressed by recommending research that identifies the risks involved with this process. This will be achieved by bringing this issue forward as a research priority to the Lake Superior Technical Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
- Additional information was added to the document in order to elaborate on assessment activities and to provide more detail on what will be done in future assessment programs on the Kaministiquia River. The edits also address concerns regarding what will happen if at least 100 fish aren’t caught in assessment programs, in which case, as many fish as possible that can be caught will be sampled.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
435 James Street South
Suite 221E
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S8
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Kyle Rogers
435 James Street South
Suite 221E
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S8
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) - Upper Great Lakes Management Unit (UGLMU) has drafted a stocking plan which would provide guidance for future fish stocking activities in Ontario waters of Lake Superior.
Stocking has been a commonly used fisheries management tool on the Great Lakes for over a century. Stocking on Lake Superior has assisted in the successful rehabilitation of native species such as Lake Trout, developed new recreational fishing opportunities for pacific salmonids, and has diverted pressure away from over-exploited stocks of native species.
Concern regarding negative effects of supplemental stocking led the UGLMU to review all stocking programs on Lake Superior. Risks relevant to Lake Superior include: the collapse of prey fish populations; negative impacts on the genetic health of naturalized/wild fish stocks; the disruption of spawning activities of other species during the egg collection process; and the introduction of disease into wild populations through stocking of diseased fish.
Currently, fish stocking in Ontario waters of Lake Superior is limited to Chinook salmon stocked into the Kaministiquia River in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Recently the MNRF phased out Lake Trout stocking in Lake Superior after successful rehabilitation of the species. MNRF has assessed the need and efficacy of Chinook Salmon stocking and is recommending that stocking of this species continue. Stocking numbers would be 120,000 fish or fewer a year to help minimize any risks associated with continued stocking. The draft stocking plan outlines a goal and objectives for continued stocking which focus on developing a spawning population in the Kaministiquia River. Allowing Chinook Salmon stocking to continue follows approaches that are consistent with current MNRF planning initiatives and Fish Community Objectives for Lake Superior.
Public consultation opportunities
In addition to this policy proposal notice, the draft stocking plan will be sent to members of fisheries management zone councils (FMZ9 and FMZ6), as well as other fish and wildlife stakeholder groups. Aboriginal communities including First Nations and Metis will be notified of this posting, informing them of the opportunity to comment, and will also be sent copies of the draft stocking plan.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
435 James Street South
Suite 221E
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S8
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from June 22, 2015
to August 6, 2015
Connect with us
Contact
Kyle Rogers
435 James Street South
Suite 221E
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S8
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
14By email
0By mail
0