Fisheries in Georgian Bay and the North Channel to benefit from enhanced stewardship opportunities

Ongoing efforts by the, Georgian Bay /North Channel Fisheries Stewardship Council to improve the status of fisheries resources has recently received a boost from the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit (UGLMU) of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). Funding for a Stewardship Coordinator position that would provide support to projects initiated by this Council has been approved for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

The Georgian Bay/North Channel Fisheries Stewardship Council, otherwise referred to as the Council, was formed in 2000 by the UGLMU, in response to a growing number of concerns being expressed about the status of fish populations in the area. The Council is made up of approximately 18 individuals representing a broad range of public interests including lodge, marina and tackle shop owners, fishing guides, cottage association members, fish and game club members, and municipal government representatives. The Council has been instrumental in contributing to the development of new recreational fishing regulations that were implemented in 2003. These new regulations are recognized as some of the most progressive in North America, providing a significant level of protection for rehabilitating fish stocks in the area.

Although this Council has accomplished much during its short tenure, its desire to address the multitude of issues affecting the local aquatic ecosystem have been limited due to the lack of adequate fiscal resources. Recent discussions with representatives from the Ontario Stewardship Network, an OMNR program that provides volunteer groups with funding and staffing support for developing environmental priorities primarily on private lands, have highlighted an opportunity for the Council to expand its activities. The Ontario Stewardship Network represents an opportunity for the Council to have a more positive, tangible impact on the health of aquatic resources in Georgian Bay and the North Channel, namely through local, community based projects such as habitat rehabilitation and educational programs.

The UGLMU, using funding from the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Ecosystem (COA) which supports the efforts of volunteers and community organizations in the Upper Great Lakes Basin, has hired a stewardship coordinator for a trial one year period to advise and assist the Councils activities.  Using its motto of ‘Help us Help our Fisheries’, the Council has an ambitious agenda for this coming year and encourages anyone with an interest in improving fish populations in Georgian Bay and the North Channel to contact the Council and its members for more information.