During the summer the MNRF will be out doing Broad scale Monitoring on several lakes with in FMZ’s 12,15,16, 17 and 18.You may encounter a notice like this during your activities this summer
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is responsible for
monitoring the abundance and health of fish populations in the lakes and
rivers across Ontario. MNRF science crews will collect information on fish
species, take water samples, and check for invasive species in this lake and
approximately 145 other lakes from June to September.
If you are on this lake while it is being monitored and see MNRF buoys, please
don’t lift the nets or buoys, and avoid recreational activities or anchoring
between and around the buoys. All MNRF nets are clearly marked with
orange buoys bearing the Ontario logo. Nets are checked and moved to a
new location every day.
Biological data are collected by our science crews and provide MNRF
biologists with valuable information about abundance, age structure,
mortality, and maturity of the types of fish in the lake. This information is
used to evaluate the health of fish populations in the lake and make
management decisions.
The number of fish caught and sampled represents a very small percentage of
the total population in the lake. As resource managers responsible for the
sustainability of these populations, we are sensitive to the number of fish
collected, but strongly believe this information is necessary to responsibly
manage this resource.
It is important for your safety and for the integrity of our data that these
nets are not disturbed.
If you have any questions or concerns about our monitoring program, contact
Steve Vandermeer at 705-934-0594 (steve.vandermeer@ontario.ca).
For more on Ontario’s aquatic resources, check out ontario.ca/fishing for
angling opportunities and monitoring techniques.