NOTICE OF PROPOSAL FOR POLICY

© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2006

Proposal Title:

Proposal for Regulatory Guidelines for Managing the Lake Trout Recreational Fishery in Ontario

Short Description:

Regulatory Guidelines for Managing the Lake Trout Recreational Fishery in Ontario are part of a co-ordinated initiative to protect Ontario lake trout populations (see Environmental Registry notice XB05E6802, web-link below).

The report (tool kit) describes the regulatory options for the management of lake trout in Ontario (see web-link below). The options are based on a review of current literature on the effectiveness of various regulations for managing lake trout, recent scientific knowledge and recent monitoring and assessment efforts. The options presented here build on the science and management recommendations from the Lake Trout Synthesis and other lake trout management plans. The recommendations in this tool kit represent a combination of management strategies designed to protect lake trout populations from over-exploitation while, where possible, minimizing reductions in angling opportunities.

The lake trout is the only major, indigenous recreational fish species in Ontario that is adapted to oligotrophic lakes (i.e., lakes with low levels of nutrients, high dissolved oxygen levels, and typically deep areas with very cold water). Its slow growth, late maturity, low reproductive potential and slow replacement rate make it a unique species in the province. It is an important component of Ontario’s rich biodiversity, because of the unique character of the species and the unique gene pools of many of its individual stocks.

The lake trout is a sensitive species that is adapted to a narrow range of environmental conditions. It is an excellent indicator of the health of the fragile aquatic ecosystems of which it is a part.

Lake trout lakes are rare. Only about one percent of Ontario’s lakes contain lake trout, but this represents 20-25% of all lake trout lakes in the world. The province, therefore, has a great responsibility to manage them wisely.

The lake trout is an important fishery resource in Ontario. It is a preferred species among many anglers, both resident and non-resident, and provides a diversity of fishing opportunities.

There has been a general decline in both the quality of the sport fishery for lake trout and in lake trout habitat in many lakes. Lake trout, and lake trout lakes, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of human activities, including exploitation, enrichment from cottage septic systems and other sources of nutrient enrichment, acidification, species introductions, and habitat destruction. Because of their high sensitivity to disturbance, special protection is required for these lakes and their lake trout populations. Approximately 5% of the province's lake trout populations have already become extinct.

Exploitation is a critical stress affecting lake trout populations. Angling effort on lake trout lakes can be extremely high especially for those lakes close to urban areas or those easily accessible by anglers. In extreme cases, especially on small lakes, improved access can lead to harvests well in excess of sustainable levels in a matter of weeks.

Purpose of the Proposal:

To identify the most effective regulatory options to ensure sustainability for lake trout in Ontario based on existing science and current knowledge, and to simplify, where possible, regulations which are ultimately selected.

Other Relevant Information:

This tool kit was developed to provide a standard suite of regulatory options that can be applied on a Provincial, Regional or Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) basis in order to avoid the unnecessary variations that are found in the existing regulations. As such, it will contribute to MNR’s new Ecological Framework for Recreational Fisheries Management in Ontario by:

• making the fishing regulations in Ontario easier to understand;
• increasing compliance by anglers;
• removing possible barriers to fishing due to complex fishing regulations; and
• providing a more consistent approach to managing fisheries on a broad scale.

The goal of this approach is to ensure that regulations can be rationalized on a sound biological basis to achieve resource sustainability while, at the same time, streamlining and simplifying Ontario’s fishing regulations.

In order to provide consistency to the management of lake trout in Ontario, the regulatory proposals will list the options to be used in the development of any new regulations for lake trout. In cases where the existing regulations do not conform to the options in this report, they should be reviewed and modified if appropriate.

Supporting documentation for this notice is found through the web-links shown at the bottom of this notice, and includes:

• Lake trout tool kit – proposed regulatory options.
• New Ecological Framework for Recreational Fisheries Management in Ontario - Ontario is developing a new framework for fisheries management focusing on new Fisheries Management Zones, enhanced stewardship, and managing and monitoring at the broad landscape level as opposed to individual lake management. This initiative will also rationalize fishing regulations to make them more standardized across the province and easier to understand.
• EBR notice XB05E6802 - Ministry of Natural Resources announces the development of a coordinated strategy to protect lake trout populations in Ontario.
• EBR notice PB06E6807 - Proposal for a dissolved oxygen criterion for the protection of lake trout habitat, with a link to an index page that includes technical reports, maps, and a list of lakes designated for lake trout management.
• EBR proposal notice PB06E6030 - Guidelines for Managing the Recreational Fishery for Brook Trout in Ontario; the brook trout proposal is also part of the New Ecological Framework for Recreational Fisheries Management in Ontario and is being posted concurrently with this proposal in order to facilitate review of these related proposals.

Other Public Consultation:

Key stakeholders will be invited to comment on the report.

Comments should be directed to the following Contact Person:

Warren Dunlop, Senior Aquatic Ecologist
MNR Fish and Wildlife Branch, Fisheries Section
300 Water St.
Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 8M5
PHONE: (705) 755-5944  FAX: (705) 755-1957

Additional material in support of this notice is available by clicking the following hyperlink(s):

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/EBR/lake_trout/tool_kit.pdf
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/fishing/fmz/index.html
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MRN/peche/fmz/
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/026447ex.htm
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/026605ep.htm
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/028684ep.htm

1. are submitted in writing;
2. reference the EBR Registry number; and
3. are received by the Contact person within the specified comment period.

Please Note: No acknowledgment or individual response will be provided to those who comment. All comments and submissions received will become part of the public record.