West Nipissing Ouest – Sturgeon Falls, Verner, St Charles, Field and Area News Ontario and Nipissing First Nation (NFN) are continuing to work together on sustainable management of Lake Nipissing fisheries and local walleye population recovery.
The province and NFN are marking the first anniversary of the Lake Nipissing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was established in 2016 to support collaboration on fisheries management and walleye repopulation in Lake Nipissing. Both parties have released a joint update on MOU progress over the past year, which includes:
- Conducting more than 30 days of commercial fishery assessments and monitoring surveys, including 48 net sets for the Fall Walleye Index Netting survey
- Working cooperatively with NFN fishers to sample 850 fish
- Contacting more than 90 commercial fishers to raise awareness of the new fisheries management practices
- Communicating the new fisheries management practices to approximately 600 recreational anglers
- Introducing a temporary moratorium on the cultural practice of spear fishing.
- Ontario and NFN will build on this progress by continuing community and industry outreach and maintaining the sustainable practices established through the MOU.
Quick Facts
- On March 10, 2016, NFN and Ontario signed an MOU with the aim of sustainably managing the Lake Nipissing fisheries.
- The MOU supports the recovery of the walleye fishery and the implementation of NFN’s Fisheries Law, including a commitment to compliance and enforcement.
- NFN and the province continue to work together to collect, analyze and share fisheries data, conduct fisheries assessments and monitor surveys.
- A joint workshop held in December, 2016 provided an opportunity for NFN and provincial staff to discuss lessons learned, successes and recommendations for year two of the MOU.
Additional Resources
DOWNLOAD NFN’s fishing regulations and partnership with MNRF
For a printed copy of the MOU update contact NFN at: 705-753-2050 or MNRF North Bay District at: 705-475-5550.