Dan Andrews Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 http://www.ofah.org/downloads/PDF/PR/fishr...se.pdf#zoom=90% OFAH FILE: 842 March 28, 2007 For Immediate Release O.F.A.H. Warns of Potential Disaster for Future of Ontario Fisheries On March 22, 2007, Ministry of Natural Resources district staff across the province received a directive outlining potential areas of action being contemplated by the Ministry in response to concerns over VHS, a disease that affects some fish. As a result, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.), the largest nonprofit conservation based organization in Ontario, has worked nonstop over the last week to make the Minister aware of the best course of action for the future of several fish species in Ontario, and to provide the Minister with the best available information demonstrating the disastrous results that would occur if the extreme and unwarranted actions were chosen instead. The O.F.A.H. has recommended the following: Egg & Spawn Collection (Rainbow & Steelhead) 1. Status quo for collection and stocking within infected waters. 2. If stocking outside infected waters, disinfections required. Baitfish 1. Harvest and use within infected waters. 2. No transfer outside of infected waters. Fishways (Rainbow/Steelhead) 1. Status quo with fish passage to spawning areas. This is the position of the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and New York, and is currently authorized by Great Lakes Fish Community Objectives and M.N.R. watershed-based Fisheries Management Plans. Egg & Spawn Collections (Walleye) 1. Continue moratorium of egg/spawn collection from infected waters for stocking outside of infected waters in the absence of disinfections method. 2. Outside infected waters, status quo. Fishways (Walleye) e.g. Dunnville dam/Grand River 1. Status quo fish passage must continue because dam/barrier does not prevent passage of salmonids. "Any decision by the M.N.R. to arbitrarily halt the collection of eggs, ban baitfish or eliminate the movement of fish in traditional waterways would spell disaster for the future of rainbow trout in Lake Ontario and surrounding waters,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. "The best available information, and the position taken by the neighbouring states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, clearly shows that prohibitions on fish passage are unwarranted and would have huge negative consequences. We trust that the Minister will listen to the O.F.A.H. and others who have strongly advised against taking extreme actions that will have no effect on the spread of VHS, but could damage conservation, fish reproduction and provincial hatchery systems for years to come.” -30- Contact Dr. Terry Quinney O.F.A.H. Provincial Manager Fish & Wildlife Services (705) 748-6324 Dave Brown O.F.A.H. Fisheries Biologist (705) 748-6324 Greg Farrant O.F.A.H. Government Relations Manager (705) 748-6324 (705) 875-0274 cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwl Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 great post Dan, that's why all the comments I made in the other thread, it's my thoughts that no further harm can possibly be done by letting every thing go on as normal in the already deemed infected areas..it is not going to cause any damage at all to let fish travel through a fish ladder for example to spawn from one infected area to another..some times just being a lower to upper part of the exact same river passage. Also think it's is definately not going to cause any more harm to continue regular annual stocking programs by collecting eggs from the same body of water that the fish will be stocked back into. Man one year of loss of stocking programs in some areas and blocked fish passage can really screw things up for years to come. I also hope that some of our local bait harvesters get a break as well, aint no harm using a minnow from the Niagara River for example that was caught in the Niagara River for sure. A good example of this was brought to my attention over the last couple years regarding West Lake, problem there, every year the town "catch basin" would flood in the spring, and muddy water would overflow into the towns drinking water. Without doing the proper "impact studies" they decided to build a dam, this resulted in the blockage of annual walleye migrations and spawn, and for a few years there was no spawning activity at all from a once flourishing walleye population, this resulted in the walleye population nearly being wiped out...it took at least 6-7 years, stocking programs, fish passage ways ect for the population to bounce back to a stable healthy population. I hope our walleye stocking program at the FECC doesn't get the shut down this year, soon will be time to start getting the pond ready Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigugli Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Considering the MNR's track record, this temporary lockdown could take 2 years to resolve. By then someone might come up with a plan of action, or by then realize that they were too late, again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwl Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 proud to add some great news to this thread, have first hand news and will be actively participating starting on Tuesday that local stocking efforts are to resume and will start....going to be collecting fish for transfer, and brood stock for the local "Tri Clubs" rearing and stocking efforts, as well as taking samples, measuiring and tagging as part of walleye enhancement projects. Alot of people have really come through on this one along with the MNR to organize this on such short notice..everyone really has thier act together and a game plan to go by over the next couple weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigugli Posted April 6, 2007 Report Share Posted April 6, 2007 I am impressed. to all for their efforts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Andrews Posted April 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 Join the club and we'll bring ya along for the ride P.S. in case you didn't get it the VHS Lockdown order has been lifted for one year. Keep in touch with your local clubs and MNR office about kills and please take precautions or the lift of spawners over the damm next year might not happen. DON'T DUMP YOUR BAIT IN FORIEGN WATERS FROM WHICH IT DID NOT COME!!!!!!! You can thank the OFAH for bringing common sense to the table here and possibly get back to work soon. Join the OFAH if you want common sense in our fisheries. Also know who your MPP is and how to contact them. Thank you Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigugli Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 I don't mind calling on my M.P.P. half as much as he minds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.