Local anglers and 100% of Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program clubs in our area have begun to question new policies which concern our region. They are not happy with the Ministry of Natural Resources’ projected changes to the Lake Trout Rehabilitation Plan for Lake Huron. The MNR has released a “Draft” version of the Lake Trout Rehab for Ontario Waters of Lake Huron and is seeking public comments to the plan. Public outcry has ensued across the board, including comments from the Saugeen Shores region to the concerned anglers of Manitoulin and Wasaga Beach.
There is no doubt that the ecosystem of Lake Huron is in a state of flux. Gone are the days of excellent salmon catches by recreational anglers. Invasive species have thrown a curve ball into the food web of Huron over the past two decades. Zebra and Quagga Mussels, Spiny Water Flea, Round Gobies, Cormorants and disappearing Alewife numbers are all to blame for the restructuring of the ecosystem. Plain and simple, Huron is not what it was ten or fifteen years ago.
Chinook salmon seem to have taken the biggest hit since the foodweb has been altered. Chinooks are also a non-native species, introduced by the state of Michigan in the mid 1900’s and subsequently maintained through extensive stocking by local CFWIP clubs along the shores of Huron and Georgian bay. To counteract the changes in the lake, the MNR has downgraded the total allotment of CFWIP stocked salmon for some time. There is no MNR salmon stocking in Lake Huron. Populations which have been established (past and present) are a direct result of volunteer works from involved angling clubs.
In an attempt to bring about a more historic fish community in Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, the MNR implemented a Lake Trout Rehabilitation Plan. Lake Trout are a native species to Huron. Their populations have existed in these waters since ancient times. Sadly, the arrival of sea-lamprey and intensive commercial fishing nearly wiped out Lake Trout by the 1940’s. In an effort to rehabilitate the fish populations the MNR began the “splake” program in 1969. The “splake” is a cross between a Brook Trout and a Lake Trout, producing a fish which had characteristics of both parents. A large stocking project centered on splake was undertaken by the MNR in Georgian Bay during the 70’s and 80’s. Unfortunately, though touted as the answer to failing Lake Trout stocks, the splake and following “backcross” (a mix of splake and lake trout genetics) became an apparent dud as far as Lake Huron and Georgian Bay was concerned.
Beginning in the early 90’s, the stocking of pure strain Lake Trout was undertaken by the MNR in both Huron and Georgian Bay as another attempt to establish the trout as a naturally reproducing species. In 1996, the MNR released the original Lake Trout Rehabilitation Plan for Lake Huron. This plan set forth the guidelines of stocking practices and management protocols which were intended to bring Lake Trout back as a self sustaining predator in the lake. Now in 2012, the MNR has drafted a plan of revisions to guide the Lake Trout program into the future. This plan’s intention is to “establish Lake Trout as the top predator in the open waters of Lake Huron”. This is the MNR goal with which the vast majority of anglers take issue.
Local CFWIP clubs include the Sydenham Sportsman Association, the Lake Huron Fishing Club, the Bruce Peninsula Sportsmen and the Georgian Triangle Anglers Association. Each of these groups raise and release numbers of brown trout, steelhead and/or salmon for the recreational fishery on Huron and Georgian Bay. These groups have provided comments on the Draft Revised Plan and each group’s statements appear to echo each other.
Local anglers are very disappointed in the lack of results from the intensive Lake Trout program to date. Since 1993, massive numbers of MNR stocked Lake Trout have been planted in Huron and Georgian Bay, yet anglers have yet to be graced with good catches of Lakers locally. Angler creel surveys have shown a very low number of “wild”, naturally reproduced lake trout in local waters. The clubs also agree that Lake Trout do not provide an attractive offshore fishery for anglers, stating that the fish fight poorly and are not found in great numbers. In addition, government consumption restrictions (the suggested amount of fish that is safe to eat) are present on adult fish which creates a dilemma when discussing the merits of Lake Trout to the commercial fishery.
GTAA president Richard Baldry stated that “At least 95% of those who fish from boats don't target Lake Trout. Many of those boaters now trailer their boats to Lake Ontario throughout the seasons, where the preferred species such as salmon, rainbow and brown trout are plentiful and enjoyable to catch. Too many years have now passed with a declining fishery of preferred species in this area. We have seen the loss of tackle shops in Collingwood, Thornbury and Wasaga Beach; also there were as many as twenty charter boats that were busy from May to October and now there is only one out of Collingwood”.
The Sydenham Sportsmen released a comment that is similar stating, “As partners in conservation we see Lake Trout as a small part of the equation and strongly support the economic/recreationally favored preference of Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout which have established relatively strong wild and hatchery raised populations that have contributed substantially to our Great Lakes Fishery. Stocking one species to the extent that the ministry is doing, while giving little consideration, at the same time, to the other salmonids that play such an important role in the lives of so many Ontarians, can not be thought of as being sound fishery policy by our MNR, when it comes to the lake and bay sitting at our back door.”
The Bruce Peninsula Sportsman Association was quick to provide comments to the Plan, originally trying to discuss the matter at a general meeting of local CFWIP Clubs and MNR staff back in the winter. The BPSA noted that “As they take longer to grow, lake trout accumulate more toxins than do trout and salmon of the same size. In central Lake Huron, women and children are advised by the MOE to not consume lake trout greater than 14 inches in length.” The club added that “Present lake trout stocking into Lake Huron costs an average of over $900,000 per year. Thirty percent of the Ontario fish culture capacity is used to support this stocking. Ninety percent of the funds used to pay for this come from licensing fees paid by men and women to be allowed to fish.” Al Wilkens from the Lake Huron Fishing Club went on to add that “One to two million lake trout fingerlings per year have to be having a significant impact on a fragile prey base in the lake. This amount of biomass in one species must be suppressing other sport fish species. Reducing the number of lake trout may well result in a rebound of other fish species that are more desirable from both a sport fishing and commercial viewpoint.”
It seems very apparent that local anglers and conservation partners are not pleased to see the MNR continue with the Lake Trout Plan. It is also evident that rehabilitation efforts to date have not produced the intended results. Lake Trout are not the focus of local angling derbies. They do not fill motels with anglers or support local economies. Lake Trout play a minor role in local commercial fisheries and do not command a high price at the market. In the eyes of an offshore angler, the Lake Trout is near the bottom of the list in desired species. While Chinook salmon may no longer dominate the current fish population in Huron, steelhead and brown trout appear to be faring well and are a desired species among anglers. This commentary has prompted many to consider the proposed policies both economically unjustifiable and a misappropriation of funds and energy that might be put to better use investigating and implementing other options.
The question then is, will public comments steer the revisions to the Lake Trout Rehabilitation Plan? The only answer one can speculate is that, unfortunately, only time will tell.
For more information on Lake Trout management in Lake Huron, a copy of the Plan can be found online at http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-Ext...I4&language=en and the online feedback survey can be accessed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ltrout...rehabilitation
In the photo, Jeremiah Johnson, of Owen Sound wasn't interested in local Lake Trout fishing, as he traveled to Lake Ontario to battle big king salmon this past week.