Fisheries Management Zone 9 (FMZ 9)
Information about fishing and how fish resources are managed in Fisheries Management Zone 9 (Lake Superior).
News and updates
Black Bay and Black Sturgeon River Environmental Assessment
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is considering removing the existing dam on the Black Sturgeon River and replacing it with a new sea lamprey barrier upstream.
The initial opportunity for public comment closed on January 31, 2013. Next steps are to produce a Draft Environmental Study Report and later provide opportunity for public comment.
- Environmental assessment for Black Bay and Black Sturgeon River
- Black Bay and Black Sturgeon River native fisheries rehabilitation (PDF)
Fishing rules
You can:
- find specific rules for fishing in FMZ 9
- use the Fish on-Line mapping tool
- find a complete set of fishing rules in the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary
About this zone
FMZ 9 includes the Canadian waters of Lake Superior. This zone has:
- the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in the world
- some of Lake Superior’s most unique aquatic and terrestrial environments
- provincially and nationally protected features, including the proposed Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area
- important recreational, commercial and tourism-based fisheries
- prominent fisheries for native lake trout, walleye, yellow perch and (coaster) brook trout, as well as introduced species such as Chinook salmon, coho salmon and rainbow trout in both open waters and tributaries
- an active commercial fishery that targets lake whitefish, walleye, cisco, lake trout and yellow perch
FMZ 9 is one of 20 fisheries management zones in the province.
Location
FMZ 9:
- its northwestern boundary is the international border at the Pigeon River
- bordered to the southeast by the compensating works on the St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste. Marie
- its southern boundary is the Canada – US border dividing Lake Superior
- includes the Lake Superior islands other than St. Ignace and Simpson Islands (FMZ 6) and Michipicoten Island (FMZ 10)
- boundaries extend, in most cases, across river mouths of Lake Superior tributaries
- cities include Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, as well as the towns of Dorion, Red Rock, Nipigon, Rossport, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Marathon and Wawa
Legal boundary map and detail maps
Legal boundary map for FMZ 9 and detail maps 1 - 25 (PDF)
Monitoring reports and management plans
- Joint strategic plan for management of Great Lakes fisheries
- Fish community objectives for Lake Superior
Zone advisory council
The FMZ 9 council provides advice during the development of fisheries objectives and strategies.
Council members represent a broad range of views including:
- angling and commercial fishing groups
- scientists and researchers
- conservation groups
- interested community members
The advisory council participates in fisheries management by:
- sharing ideas and expertise with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
- helping to develop and implement management strategies
- communicating with the local and angling community
For more information about the Fisheries Management Zone 9 advisory council, please contact the Upper Great Lakes management unit at
Environmental assessment for Black Bay and Black Sturgeon
Black Bay is a large bay on the north shore of Lake Superior:
- it historically supported the largest population of walleye in Lake Superior
- the walleye population collapsed in 1968 from a combination of factors, including overfishing and habitat loss
- dam construction on the Black Sturgeon River may have blocked access to spawning areas for walleye, lake sturgeon and other native fish species
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry may remove the dam, replacing it with a new sea lamprey barrier upstream to:
- readmit native species to important spawning sites
- continue blocking the invasive sea lamprey from the Black Sturgeon watershed
- address structural concerns identified by MNRF engineers
Both the dam and the proposed barrier site are inside the borders of Black Sturgeon River Provincial Park. The proposal to decommission the dam is being evaluated under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves through:
- initial opportunity for public comment — closed January 31, 2013
- a draft environmental study report
- another opportunity for public comment
Bulletin – Restoring Black Bay fish populations
Black Bay and Black Sturgeon River native fisheries rehabilitation (PDF)