Ganaraska closer part 2

[chessy]

My name is Jason Whyte, I would like to take this time to introduce myself. I have been an active volunteer at the fishway in Port Hope for over 40 years.    I am very proud to have worked alongside some of the best biologists and wildlife specialists.   Through this tenue I have been fortunate enough to be able to facilitate many positive relationships within the MNRF, LOMU, local fishing groups, Port Hope council and staff.  I currently manage the Ganaraska Fishway Facebook Page which allows me to maintain an open dialog of information with my 4400 followers from the fishing community.

 

Recently the Town of Port Hope Council and Mayor have reached out to a few different organizations to enforce a regulation change and ultimate closure of the lower section of the Ganaraska which left many fishermen angry and looking for an outlet.   This is not done at the fault of the local MNRF or LOMU offices and I do not believe it was their decision.   I feel this decision was reached through closed door discussion and political agendas of those in power way above the local offices.

 

In 2016 the Por Hope council and Port Hope Police Services worked with the MNRF to increase enforcement along the banks of the Ganaraska during the fall salmon run. Enforcement blitzes were implemented with the understanding that every infraction would result in a ticket (no warnings).  There were stories of tickets issued to fishermen who had their licence in tackle boxes 10 feet away and receiving a ticket for not having these licenseson their person as it’s written in the fishing regulations.  2017 showed the successful results of 2016 and Port Hope Police Services and MNFR again blitzing with the addition of some tolerance being increased and several warnings/teachable moments.   Again, infractions were abundant.    2018 the infractions had lowered enough it was decided that a 50/50 (tickets and warning) approach would be enough. Things were improving.  Fast forward to 2022, a new council elected with their new views and agendas, new staff was hired.  Covid had the river access shut down to all.   2023 post covid saw salmon season starting with the most horrific example of poor fishing practices, snagging, garbage and dead fish laying on the riverbank.  It was worse than we had experienced prior to 2016.  What had Happened?

 

I went on a search for an answer and found that the Port Hope Police Services were short staffed due to sickness and were unable to complete the dedicated patrols.  Although the 2023 budget allowed $10 000 for this project. I found that although the Police and MNRF had worked in tandem in the past few years on this project no communications were sent to the MNRF asking for a little extra enforcement this year due to the staffing situation. 

 

I spoke with the new head of Port Hope Parks and Recreation department about the amount of garbage, lack of garbage cans, and overall mess in our parks and downtown regions.  Many fish carcasses left that clearly showed evidence of eggs being harvested.  I heard a similar story here. I was informed Parks Department was short staffed the daily riverside garbage pickup /clean-up we had seen in the previous 6 years under previous management did not happen.  Where in the past parks Department employees would walk the river, each morning returning any beached or left behind carcasses back into the water this wasn’t possible in 2023 and the lack of fall rains did not flush the dead fish out into deeper water leading to a rotten mess that the town did not like. 

 

Here we are in 2024 and an online petition asking for fishing on the Ganaraska River in the fall be stopped. I was asked to join The Ganaraska Salmon Fishing Working Group.  Our agenda was to look at 2023 and the public outcry, try to determine what had happened and why and then take this information and try to come up with a working plan that would satisfy all the stakeholders for 2024 and the future.  When I reported my finding from my conversations with Port Hope Police and Parks and Recreation many were taken back. Especially why these staffing issues were not reported prior to the start of salmon season.  To this day not one member of council or staff have admitted their mismanagement and ultimate failure to the citizens of Port Hope.

 

Our committee drafted a proposed plan that all the police new officers and old would have updated training in fish related violations and bylaw officers would work weekends enforcing the current bylaws prohibiting leaving garbage and dead fish along the bank of the Ganaraska. A group of port hope volunteers would walk the river and educate fishermen on garbage disposal and proper fishing techniques.  We also demanded that there would be 0 tolerance for any fishing violation and bylaws for littering would be strictly enforced. 

 

Before we had a chance to submit our plan of action to council for approval the MNRF released a proposed change to fishing regulations for 2025 onward that would see the current fish sanctuary extended south to the viaduct from September 1 -October 14 and would see the river reopening for fall fishing until December 31^st.  These proposed changes were the result of closed door meetings between with the town, GRCA, OFAH and MNRF circumventing  our  lower level strategies.  This did seem to satisfy the mayor who opened dialogs with the first nations where the Ganaraska along with possibly Rice Lake would be deemed a personhood.   What that exactly involves I do not know.  But my subsequent research has shown it is not going to be positive for anyone other than first nations.  These talks are a complete disregard of the energies, time, funding and resources of our working group members, OFAH, MNRF, and  GRCA.  And then somehow some way the public consultation regarding the new regulations closed on August 22 and before the data is completely collected and organized an Injunction is signed on August 29^th (Friday of a holiday weekend when offices are all closed for communication) by the Minister of Natural Resources.  No consideration was given to those fishermen already either with booked accommodations or those with planned trips, no notice was given allowing them to make different plans.  No consideration was given to these businesses that had planned for addition staffing and resources to support the expected arrival of 1000’s of people to Port Hope.  I and many other people whom I have spoken with this weekend feel this injunction was an unjust example of government not taking any accountability for their actions. 

 

Through this process it left me wondering why is the mayor so enthusiastic about this person ship and increased rights to the first nations?  Why was it so important that instead of increasing staff members and utilizing budget money for the salmon run as well as making those who failed to perform their duties accountable the mayor instead seeks an emergency injunction?

 

[BillM]

I find it funny that this response doesn't mention the slaughter that happens or the conditions it happens in.  Fishing in that section isn't sporting.   It's shooting fish in a barrel, I wouldn't even want to guess how many fish are flossed/snagged/pitchforked/netted or whatever during a single season run.   This is the absolute best thing that could have happened, I hope it continues for years ahead.   

[chessy]

1 hour ago, BillM said:

I find it funny that this response doesn't mention the slaughter that happens or the conditions it happens in.  Fishing in that section isn't sporting.   It's shooting fish in a barrel, I wouldn't even want to guess how many fish are flossed/snagged/pitchforked/netted or whatever during a single season run.   This is the absolute best thing that could have happened, I hope it continues for years ahead.   

it did I said it was horrific in 2023.  there is data avalbie where 0 tolerance worked.. then the town let is go for a crap 

 

[Barry Willis]

Although I don't reside in Ontario any more I totally agree. I used to ride along with Game Wardens in Ontario because of my knowledge of the creeks, trails, and areas. The poaching on and around the Bruce Peninsula was sickening, 24/7 especially Oxenden and Colpoy creeks and Sauble Falls.

I don't know about in Ontario but out here in Alberta we have a report a poacher hot line with cash rewards. Last fall I talked to a Game Warden Buddy and they can't keep up, under staffed, as is the case in all provinces. There were 27 calls on his computer waiting to be addressed, and this is a year round thing.

A couple years back I was fishing the Sheep River in the Rockies and came across three big Bull Trout carcasses, left to rot just for their eggs, our provincial fish and on the endangered species list. And the trash is another thing, that really gets me gay man&ed off. Some times it seems I am spending more time filling my canoe or boat or arms with  trash rather than fishing, photography, and or hunting. And it isn't just close to urban areas, it's miles back in the foothills and mountains, everything from coffee cups to discarded, busted up lawn chairs. Well I gotta get off here as I'm getting madder by the minute just thing about it. Those have been my stompin' grounds for 40 plus years, which were pristine back in the day. If you were able to pack it in, pack it out.

[CrowMan]

Jason, I certainly appreciate your efforts and dedication to the resource. I was involved for a long time in several conservation organizations. I know the work is often thankless and many times it feels like you're banging your head on a rock.

I have mixed feelings about the Ganny closure. Yes, it was seemingly done in haste and without complete input from all the stakeholders, and it's never a good thing when we lose angling opportunities. However, I think the writing has been on the wall for sometime, and this decision was inevitable from a political perspective. Afterall, the mayor was democratically elected and I'm assuming carry out the wishes of her constituents. That, and the OMNR simply doesn't have the budget or the manpower to effectively police the situation. The current Conservative gov't has no interest in increasing taxes or taking money from Education or Healthcare to pay for it...that's not what's going to get them elected again.

The "steps" on the Ganny are just too tempting for casual "fishermen" to employ methods that were unlawful. For a lot of the people there, it was the only "fishing" they did all year. A few steps from the parking lot on a paved path...just makes it effortless for folks who couldn't be bothered to fish otherwise. A lot of them were new Canadians and teenagers who weren't fully invested in being ethical anglers.

The Ganny is unique in its topography as the steps are shallow and congregate fish to make it a shooting gallery. Trying to enforce snagging and flossing is next to impossible, especially if the fish is released....and that's what a lot folks were doing...just having fun, and doing it by hook or crook. When you have that many fish in water a few inches deep, people just can't resist. Not a great example for younger folks, and frankly it just became an embarrassment for ethical anglers to have non-fishing people witness these hi-jinks.

One could argue that the closure is in some manner just an extension of the existing reg's. I think most anglers have no argument with the current law where you can't fish within 75 ft of a dam. It might be a bit of a stretch, but you could interpret the steps to be an "obstruction" as defined in the reg's. Afterall, the intent of this reg is to prevent people from fishing where fish are stacked up and vulnerable...and they're certainly stacked up and vulnerable on the lower Ganny during the Salmon run.

I think the additional opening of the river after mid October to the end of the year for fishing is a fair trade off, especially for us who have no interest in river Salmon, but like to chase Steelhead. One door closed, another one opened.

Edited 6 minutes ago by CrowMan