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TEMPORARY FISH SANCTUARIES APPROVED FOR CHARLESTON LAKE FOR 2024 AND 2025

  • The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has approved the temporary NO FISH sanctuary on Charleston Lake - between April 15 to July 5 in the following areas:

    •  Within 100 meters of Sheep Island (44°33'21"N., 76°00'45" W.), Democrat Island (44°32'34" N., 76⁰00'55"W.), Fisher Island (44°33'00" N., 76°01'05"W.), Hogback Island (44°32'43"N., 76°00'28" W.), Prospect Island (44°32'32"N., 76°00'22" W.), Tar Island (44°32'57"N., 76°00'41"W.), Victoria Island (44°32'53"N., 76°01'07"W.), and Rockhouse Island (44°33'16"N., 76°01'07"W.)

    • and Sally’s Hole (including Brown’s Island) (44⁰33'42" N., 75⁰58'52"W.)

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HISTORY

  • In co-operation with academia (Fisheries Conservation Foundation, Universities of Carleton, Illinois, Manitoba and Queens), the ministry is proposing to create temporary fish sanctuaries on Charleston and Opinicon Lakes for the 2004/2005 fishing season to support long-term bass nesting and population recruitment research. 

  • proposed temporary regulation changes are to support long-term bass nesting and population research which has been conducted over the last three decades.  

  • Research conducted by academia has shown that pre-season bass fishing (either intentional or while targeting other fish species) and fishing for nesting bass once the season is open, has had a detrimental impact on population recruitment in several bass fisheries. 

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PROPOSED SANCTUARY RESEARCH

The proposed sanctuary will support continues research in this area.  The research intends to use spring-time bass spawning sanctuary to determine the level of improvement in reproduction and resulting population recruitment in comparison to unprotected areas.  The research will also study the relative size of sanctuary area needed to provide for sustainable population recruitment for each waterbody as well as area required to compensate for the negative impacts of pre-season fishing for nesting bass.  The research also intends to collect data on population monitoring indicators which will be compared to historical data collected for each lake during the 1990's by the research group.

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MORE INFORMATION

Click here for more information

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