Could this be the next story we read about Lake Mille Lacs?
Or could it be, if we all just sit on our hands and whine about things, your favorite lake on the list of future lakes destined for gill-netting by the White Earth/Leech Lake Bands–per their written plans via the next Treaty Rights case they are pushing? That “plan” pretty much takes in ALL the water north of Interstate #94.
Either join the fight or be it assumed you are against us…as one of Presidents once said in so many words.
Gill nets take down another lake Reply Quote Printer Friendly
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Did you read this. Lake Nipissing walleye fisheries in crisis By Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters Published: Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2012 – 11:01 am PETERBOROUGH, ON, July 31, 2012 — MNR must act now and suspend commercial gill net fishing PETERBOROUGH, ON, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) is calling on the provincial government to immediately suspend commercial gill net walleye fishing on Lake Nipissing. The OFAH is basing its recommendation on data provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), which recently commissioned an independent review of the status of the Lake Nipissing walleye fisheries and asked the OFAH to provide comment. OFAH biologists have concluded that the walleye population has suffered dramatic declines over the past decade due to unregulated commercial gill net fishing. “Lake Nipissing, one of Ontario’s specially designated waters, has seen its walleye fisheries virtually collapse. The MNR has the authority and responsibility to manage our natural resources for the benefit of all Ontarians, and yet they have allowed overharvesting by commercial gill net operations to continue unregulated for more than a decade,” said Dr. Terry Quinney, Provincial Manager of Fish and Wildlife Services. Since 1999 increasing restrictions have been imposed on recreational anglers such as shorter seasons, lower limits and a protected slot size, in which they’ve complied with in an effort to help stabilize and restore the walleye population. Despite this, recreational harvest levels in recent years are at an all time low. Although MNR biologists repeatedly indicated that there was reason for grave concern, the province ignored its own science and failed to implement a fully regulated commercial walleye regime, which has allowed the situation to reach to crisis proportions. “Until the provincial government suspends all commercial gill net operations and implements enforceable regulations, their own data tells us that the Lake Nipissing walleye population will not begin to recover. The problem is not the recreational fishery. The problem is, and continues to be unregulated commercial gill netting,” said Quinney. OFAH action on this issue can be found at http://www.ofah.org/nipissingwalleye With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 675 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit http://www.ofah.org, like the OFAH on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. SOURCE Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/31/4678712/lake-nipissing-walleye-fisheries.html#storylink=cpy
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