Important OMNR News Release!

[Aaron Shirley]

We were just sent this new important news release from the OMNR regarding hot new issues proposed by the OMNR regarding the fisheries resource in Ontario. This includes new zones (FMZ's) and changes for certain species.

It is highly important that the angling public read the proposals and voice their opinions and concerns regarding these changes. Please do not send e-mails in bad taste, as this will hurt the public's voice. Keep in mind that the OMNR are doing their best to propose changes that will enhance the fisheries and resources in Ontario, while producing easier-to-understand regulation booklets. Please read the letter below and the proposed changes with the link provided.

* one change I would personally like to see (I know many of you feel the same), is a one-fish limit (rather than the 2-fish limit proposed) for steelhead in the waters of Bronte Creek and the 16-Mile Creek in Oakville, as these are waters that are under rehabilitation and are in need of more protection.

Note: the steelhead proposals are not yet posted, but will be soon.

Aaron Shirley

2006-02-10

Getting Hooked

I am pleased to inform you of a posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry about the New Ecological Framework for Recreational Fisheries Management in Ontario. The Ontario government has been developing a new fisheries management framework that will help ensure the sustainability of the resource.

The new approach focuses on four main components:

§ New Fisheries Management Zones (FMZs);

§ Species Tool Kits

§ State of the Resource Reporting

§ Enhanced Stewardship

For more information on this initiative please visit our website at: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/fishing/fmz/index.html

As part of this exercise we have streamlined the number of fishing divisions across Ontario to better protect and enhance the quality of our recreational ffisheries.

Attached for your information is a copy of a news release by the Minister of Natural Resources. The release is about the new Fisheries Management Zones that are planned to come into effect in 2007. These twenty new zones replace the existing 37 fishing divisions and are based on are based on ecological and social factors and easy-to-find boundaries.

The release also encourages you to review and comment on the proposed zone-wide regulations for all the major sport fish species. With the creation of new zones with new boundaries, the Ministry has to develop seasons and creel and size limits for all regulated sport fish species for 2007 for the new zones.

This means changes to fishing seasons and catch limits in some of the zones. Also proposed are protective regulations for some native populations such as brook trout, lake trout and lake sturgeon, to enhance biodiversity.

I encourage you to review the proposals and provide comments to the Ministry as outlined in the news release.

Please send comments to: fisheries@mnr.gov.on.ca

[Superdad]

Here's another take from the News Wire of the Fishing News.

NEW: NEW FISHING REGULATIONS PROPOSED FOR 2007 Public Comment Requested
Mark Lamb -- Fri, Feb/10/06

TORONTO — The Ontario government is seeking public comment on proposed new ecologically based fishing regulations that would further protect the province’s biodiversity, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.

"We are streamlining the regulations and simplifying the large list of exceptions which were difficult for anglers to know and follow," said Ramsay. "We are also creating more fishing opportunities by extending seasons or removing unnecessary season closures where there aren’t sustainability issues for native fish populations."

The proposed regulation changes are part of the ministry’s new ecological framework for recreational fisheries management in Ontario announced last year. This includes managing fisheries on a zone basis rather than on an individual lake basis and reducing the number of fishing divisions to 20 zones from 37. The new Fisheries Management Zones are based on ecological and social factors and easy-to-find boundaries. These zones would go into effect in 2007.

The ministry has set out recommended seasons and creel and size limits for all regulated sport fish species for 2007 for the new zones. Most anglers will not notice much difference but in some areas the alteration in boundaries will mean changes in fishing seasons and fishing limits. Also proposed are protective regulations for some native populations such as brook trout, lake trout and lake sturgeon, to enhance biodiversity.

"The new regulations would better serve the needs of anglers while ensuring fish populations remain healthy now and in the future," said Ramsay.

The ministry is posting the proposed fishing regulations for the new fisheries zones on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry today for 60 days for public comment. To view the notice, visit www.ene.gov.on.ca/samples/search/ and enter Registry Number XB06E6001.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/csb/news/2 ... NW_06.html
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/csb/news/2 ... NE_06.html
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/csb/news/2 ... SR_06.html

[Viper]

After reading though all that MNR has posted on the proposed regulations for 2007 I am coming to the opinion that they are at least trying to make fishing regulations easier to understand.

At least they are offering the chance for everyone to provide input.

I am wondering if anyone in the FH community has formed an opinion

[Bulldog]

Has anyone been able to decipher if there will still be slot size limits for walleye on some lakes in Zone 18? And, if so, will those be zone-wide or still lake specific?

[Scum Frog]

Bulldog,

After reading the Zone 18 summary I have come to the comclusion that with Sport licence, your keep will be 4 ( down from 6 ) and with a Conservation licence it will remain at 2.

The season length I belive will stay the same.

Now for the big change, the size or slot for keeping a fish. Right now it's all over the place. Three lakes, three different sizes eg. Mississippi 13.8, Clayton & Taylor 16 & White Lake 19.9. From what I can tell the MNR has not yet decided on the size/slot for walleye in the new zone 18 or Southern Ontario ( includes Ottawa & Valley ) and the exact decision is still pending.
Note - The exact size limits I posted are from the top of my head, as always, please check the regs before you go fishing, don't take my word for it

They have the following posted: http://www.ofah.org/Downloads/PDF/Fish/ ... b14-06.pdf

[Rocky]

I've tried to decipher the maps for my area of interest. Am I correct that White Lake would now reside entirely within Zone 18? Length and creel limits are of no interest to me since I don't keep anything. That's just me. I don't have a problem with anyone else keeping legal fish.