Lake Simcoe Trout Program

[TJQ]

Dear Lake Simcoe Stakeholder,

 

 

This e-mail is following up on our series of Lake Simcoe fisheries management public meetings held around the watershed this past fall.

 

 

Natural reproduction of lake trout in Lake Simcoe has been virtually absent for over 20 years due to excess phosphorus loading to the lake and low dissolved oxygen levels in the deep coldwater habitats required by lake trout. However, the presence of naturally reproduced or wild lake trout has now been documented annually since 2001 in the Ministry of Natural Resources' assessment programs which coincides with recent improvements in water quality and habitat conditions. More recently, natural lake trout have also been a regular occurrence in anglers’ catches. In order to further increase the level of natural reproduction of lake trout in Lake Simcoe, the MNR proposed a reduction in its lake trout stocking program. Considerable public consultation occurred throughout the development of this stocking review. Both the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder and Management Committees were actively involved in a complex process to review the lake trout stocking program and recommend an appropriate adaptive management approach. In addition, given that all of the feedback received by the Ministry from stakeholders and the public at or following the public meetings was positive concerning the proposed reduction, the MNR is implementing a new stocking target of 50,000 yearling lake trout starting in the spring of 2010 for a period of 5 years. The goal of this stocking program, and the reduction, is to restore a self-sustaining coldwater fish community and maintain the recreational fishery and its associated socio-economic benefits.

 

 

The background information, options considered, consultation process and rationale for this decision is detailed in an EBR Information Notice. You can access this posting and supporting documents by following this link www.ontario.ca/environmentalregistry and search for registry # 010-8539.

 

 

Please feel free to pass this e-mail on to those who may have an interest.

 

 

Thank you for your continued interest in the fisheries resources of Lake Simcoe.

 

 

Jason Borwick, M.Sc.

 

 

Lake Simcoe Fisheries Management Biologist,

 

Aurora District

 

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

 

50 Bloomington Rd. W.

 

Aurora, ON

 

L4G 0L8

 

Tel: 905-713-7404

 

Fax: 905-713-7361

 

E-mail: [email protected]