TEMPORARY FISH SANCTUARIES - CHARLESTON LAKE AND OPINICON LAKE

• 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 AREA (Charleston Lake)

• No fishing from April 15 to July 10 in the following areas: 

• Lansdowne Township - Sheep, Democrat, Fisher, Hogback, Prospect, Tar, Victoria, and Rockhouse Islands.

• Lansdowne and Escott Township - Sand Bay and Sally's Hole Bay, including Browns Island. 

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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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COMMENT PERIOD

You can provide comments to Ministry and Natural Resources and Forestry from May 4 - June 19, 2023.

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MORE INFORMATION

Click here for more information

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