This consultation was open from:
November 27, 2020
to January 11, 2021
Decision summary
We have made changes to the lake trout regulations in Fisheries Management Zone 6 to extend the winter angling season and remove certain exceptions in order to provide increased angling opportunities.
Decision details
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 6 Advisory Council have adopted a plan amendment for lake trout. This plan includes an objective to “provide increased winter lake trout angling opportunities, where these are unlikely to negatively influence the ecological status of lake trout across the zone”.
On January 1, 2022, the following changes were made to the recreational fishing regulations for lake trout via the Variation Order Fisheries Management Zone 6.
Zone wide regulations
- adopt the same close time and size limit as FMZ 5 - January 1 to September 30; not more than 1 fish greater than 56 cm from September 1 to September 30
In addition, several regulatory exceptions for lake trout were changed in the context of current ecological and socio-economic objectives:
- remove the seasonal exceptions on the Nipigon River, Polly Lake, Lake Helen, Grouse Lake, Watershed Lake, North Mawn Lake, Muskrat River, and Spruce River
- add Black Sturgeon Lake to the list of additional fishing opportunities for lake trout (open all year)
- administrative changes to the exceptions for the Shebandowan Lakes
Effects of consultation
All comments supported the idea that winter season for lake trout should be expanded.
Most comments supported the adoption of the preferred option as described in the draft plan, (i.e., adopt the same season and size restrictions as FMZ 5).
The remaining comments supported the adoption of the less restrictive alternate option (i.e. adopt the same season and size restrictions as FMZ 4). The Ministry considered this option to be less appropriate because changing both the season and size limit concurrently makes it difficult to assess the effects of changes in future monitoring. Given the magnitude of the 2022 regulation change, monitoring for effectiveness is required before further relaxation of regulations is warranted.
Some comments suggested that the fish sanctuary on Squeers Lake should be removed. The Ministry will continue to maintain the sanctuary, as Squeers is designated a research lake; the sanctuary is integral to the long-term research project that has been ongoing since the 1980s.
Subsequent to the Environmental Registry comment period, MNRF received email correspondence from three individuals who were concerned about the impact of a longer season on small lake trout lakes, and who felt that the consultation process was inadequate.
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 221a
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6T1
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Steve Bobrowicz
435 James Street South
Suite 221a
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6T1
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Background
A fisheries management plan for Fisheries Management Zone 6 (FMZ 6) was completed in 2009 (ERO No. 010-5529). The 2009 plan recommended a change to the winter angling season for lake trout which came into effect January 01, 2010.
The current lake trout season is February 1 to March 31 and the fourth Saturday in May to September 30. From September 1 to September 30 no more than 1 fish greater than 56cm may be kept.
2009 Fisheries Management Plan
In 2019 The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the FMZ 6 Advisory Council completed a plan examination of the 2009 Fisheries Management Plan. The issues identification phase of the plan examination included the need to re-evaluate the lake trout season in the context of monitoring results that have been completed since the 2010 regulation change.
Lake trout plan amendment
MNRF and the FMZ 6 Advisory Council have developed a draft plan amendment for lake trout. This process includes an objective to “provide increased winter lake trout angling opportunities, where these are unlikely to negatively influence the ecological status of lake trout across the zone.”
The plan amendment proposes three alternatives for the lake trout regulation:
- status quo
- adopt the same regulation as FMZ 5: January 1 to September 30; not more than 1 fish greater than 56cm from September 1 to September 30 (preferred)
- adopt the same regulation as FMZ 4: January 1 to September 30
In addition, existing regulatory exceptions for lake trout were reviewed in the context of current ecological and socio-economic objectives.
The plan amendment proposes the following changes:
- remove the seasonal exceptions on the Nipigon River, Polly Lake, Lake Helen, Grouse Lake, Watershed Lake, North Mawn Lake, Muskrat River, and Spruce River
- add Black Sturgeon Lake to the list of additional fishing opportunities for lake trout (open all year)
- administrative changes to the exceptions for the Shebandowan Lakes
Based on the results of three cycles of Broadscale Monitoring in FMZ 6, between 2008 and 2019, significant changes to the ecological status of lake trout across the zone are not expected from the proposed changes.
Public consultation
The plan amendment was developed with participation from the FMZ 6 Advisory Council. This group is made up of representatives of affected Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous stakeholders throughout FMZ 6. The Advisory Council met five times between June 2019 and March 2020 to develop the Plan Amendment.
Affected Indigenous communities will receive the plan amendment via direct mail, with an invitation to comment and/or further meetings on request.
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 221a
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S8
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from November 27, 2020
to January 11, 2021
Connect with us
Contact
Chris Marchand
435 James Street South
Suite 221a
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S8
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
11By email
0By mail
0