• Minister Listens to Council

• New Fishing Regulations in Effect

• Council Working to Enhance Water Flows

New Recreational Fishing Regulations in Effect:  After over two years of information gathering, public consultation and advocacy for new conservation oriented fishing regulations; the Council's recommendations have been adopted by the Minister of Natural Resources and incorporated into the Recreational Fishing Regulations for 2003. New seasons and limits for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass and yellow perch are now in effect for Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron. In addition to the Council's recommendations, the Minister has implemented provincially standardized size limits for the further protection of spawning sized walleye and pike. The changes, which apply to Division 16 and 17, can be found on pages 38 and 40 of the Ministry's publication "2003 Recreational Fishing Regulation Summary" and can be downloaded by clicking here. The new regulations are summarized below:

Due to the overwhelming support for the new regulations shown by the public during public consultations, the Council is hopeful for a high degree of compliance with the new rules. The Council is working in conjunction with the MNR to "get the word out" and is hoping the MNR will give their Conservation Officers additional resources to ensure the new regulations are enforced.

Council Tackles Water Flow Issues in Georgian Bay

"We've seen it happening for years," says Council Member Bill McRobb "walleye eggs left high and dry when waterflows are shut down upstream. It's time we did something about it". Mr. McRobb was referring to the apparently recurring problems in historically significant walleye spawning rivers of sudden water flow reductions during the spawning season. The reductions in flow rates result in walleye eggs being left high and dry with disastrous results for the walleye population. One particularly hard hit river is the Moon, in southern Georgian Bay. The Council is currently gathering information about the extent of the problem on the Moon and other rivers and is identifying additional rivers in Georgian Bay and the North Channel were problems with water flows exist. Water flows are regulated for the most part to serve "upstream" interests, such as inland lake levels and flow rates hydroelectric power. Once the nature and extent of the problem is established, the Council will work to ensure regulation agencies consider "downstream" needs, such as walleye spawning habitat.

Council Background and Contact Information

The Eastern Georgian Bay Stewardship Council held its first meeting on October 5, 2000. The formation of the Council was funded and facilitated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources with additional support being provided by the Township of the Archipelago.

The Council's mission statement:

"To provide guidance for the protection, enhancement, and utilization of healthy, sustainable fish populations, habitats and aquatic ecosystems”.

Council members come from a broad range of public interests, and are concerned about how we manage the fish we catch as well as the entire aquatic ecosystem. Members include lodge owners, marina operators, fishing guides, cottage association representatives, individuals from a variety of sportsman’s clubs, township representatives, and a First Nation representative. They come from the southern end of Georgian Bay in Severn Sound all the way to Sault Ste. Marie and points between. The Council believes in its mission statement. It reflects the importance of the aquatic ecosystem as a whole. Healthy fish populations need a healthy ecosystem. We depend on healthy fish populations for the biological, social, cultural, and economic benefits they bring to Eastern Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The Council has identified numerous issues affecting the long-term health and sustainability of the fisheries of Georgian Bay and the ecosystems that support them. For example, the Council has recently recommended changes to Georgian Bay fishing regulations aimed at allowing fish populations to expand to former levels. Other concerns include destruction of shoreline and wetland habitat, water level fluctuations, water quality and pollution issues, forage fish populations and enforcement of existing regulations.