WALLEYE AND PIKE RECOMMENDATIONS IN NORTHEASTERN
ONTARIO AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

TIMMINS - To improve walleye and pike populations in the northeast region, the public can now review recommendations that the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee (RFAC) has submitted to the province. "The recommendations represent the consensus of regional stakeholders on how to improve the health of walleye and northern pike populations across the northeast region," said Greg Deyne, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Senior Regional Fisheries Biologist in Timmins. "It's important to recognize that the committee's recommendations do not reflect the interest of any one group, but rather a balance of all interests."

The RFAC recommendations for walleye/sauger are:  that an angler can catch and have in his or her possession either  a maximum of four walleye/sauger under 41 cm (16 inches), OR  three walleye/sauger under 41 cm (16 inches), and one walleye over 56 cm (22 inches).  For northern pike: an angler can catch and have in his or her possession either  a maximum of six northern pike under 61 cm (24 inches), OR   four northern pike under 61 cm (24 inches), and two northern pike between 61 cm (24 inches) and 86 cm (34 inches), OR  four northern pike under 61 cm (24 inches), and one northern pike between 61 cm (24 inches) and 86 cm (34 inches), and one northern pike over 86 cm (34 inches).  The proposed regulations for walleye and northern pike would apply across most of the northeast region, a large area that includes fishing divisions 14, 18, 19, 25, and 28.

A report entitled An Opportunity to Improve the Health of Walleye and Northern Pike Populations in Northeastern Region, explaining these recommendations in greater detail, is available at any district office in MNR's northeast region, and on MNR's Web site www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html.

An Environmental Registry Notice PB01E1007, which outlines the RFAC recommendations, is also posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Web site www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/er/registry.htm . MNR is accepting written comments from the public no later than August 15, 2001.

The northeast region stretches westward from the Quebec border to the Town of Manitouwadge and northward from the City of North Bay to Moosonee on the James Bay Coast covering an area the size of Newfoundland, Labrador and Prince Edward Island combined. The region has at least 1,453 lakes containing walleye, representing 35 per cent of Ontario's walleye lakes.

SEND YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS TO:
Greg Deyne, Regional Fisheries Biologist
MNR Northeast Region
Hwy. 101 E. , P.O. Bag 3020
South Porcupine, Ontario, P0R1H0
PHONE: (705) 235-1179  FAX: (705) 235-1246