Are you an angler in Ontario? Have you ever gone fishing in Ontario? Who is responsible for the quality or abundance of the various fish species throughout the province? These are the un-thought of questions that so often lie in limbo while avid anglers do their thing. These questions and subsequent article not only apply to my home province but to every province of Canada, state throughout the U.S. and country in the world.
Responsibility often eludes us at times of plenty but let one fishery turn sour and the first name to pop up is usually the Ministry of Natural Resources or other governmental office. Don't get me wrong here. This is not an article in defence of the MNR but it is a common known fact that when something bad happens it is always someone elses fault.
The provincially appointed Minister of Natural Resources bears the responsibility of overseeing the provincial fishery as a whole, including both sport and commercial fishing. There are many good people working through this Ministry that direct regional and district fisheries operations such as law enforcement, creel samplers, census takers, administrative processors and biologists.
It is a great undertaking to bear witness to the events as they unfold, good or bad, and it is a financially burdensome program to detect, examine, study and offer remedy for situations that arise threatening the provinces resident fish populations. It is readily maintained that the greatest single source of information available to the Ministry is the angler. That's right - YOU! Whether you are an avid angler or a "weekend fisherman", you are the front-line factor and the cheapest field observer that the government can buy.
Take it as your personal responsibility to inform the local MNR if you detect anything that can be regarded as a threat to your fishery. That threat may be anything from obviously large fish kills to human poaching to a disease riddled fish that you may catch.
Most Ontarians that fish are fortunate in the fact that they have come to observe the MNR as a friend or helper of the public angler and not "the law" so to speak. Of course there are Conservation Officers out there who you should fear if you are doing something illegal but while CO's are undergoing routine on site checks, I have gained knowledge from them of potential fishing hotspots or a least a general area of where they "have been getting a few big ones".
Its really not fair for me to lay some heavy responsibility trip on you especially when you go fishing for enjoyment and looking for some relaxation but do keep in mind that if you see something is wrong, report it. Before and after that fact though, I will maintain that you (and me), the angler, has a responsibility as a member of a user group to protect the future of the fishery whether it be locally or further. If you are a part of this user group, I strongly urge you to participate within a local or provincial fishing club or federation.
Membership to a fishing club can be a very fun and rewarding experience. I take into account my last attendance at the Sarnia based Bluewater Anglers meeting. After a couple of meetings the faces begin looking familiar and some I can call friends. There are three guys in one corner discussing how to effectively lobby the government with some major concerns pertaining to commercial "gill" nets. In another corner my attention is captured by a low spoken report of "good numbers of rainbow trout that are being caught,". The person goes on to say "It's fascinating to see them big ones hitting on .....", (I missed the lure part).
In another section there are people gathered around a table looking over used fishing appliances that have been brought in for sale. A second look then my attention is drawn to the guy selling raffle tickets (with which I went on to win $50 worth of tackle).
The meeting begins with a hatchery report. This club was the initial movers that saw the CFIP (Community Fisheries Involvement Program) instituted by the MNR. The MNR puts up the dollars and the club supplies the manpower. The Bluewater Anglers are expecting to release 250,000 chinook salmon and 20,000 rainbow trout from their hatchery into lower Lake Huron this spring. I don't think I have to say much more about them now. This is only one example and there are dozens of these types of clubs across the province. They could use your help.
One provincial organization that I have always patronized is the Ontario Federation of Angers and Hunters. The OFAH is over 75,000 members strong. Along with their bi-monthly magazine comes periodic questionnaires and surveys for you. These concerns are tabulated and major issues are taken to Toronto or Ottawa or further if necessary. Their emphasis is on conservation with conservation being the wise USE of our natural resources.
It is a total line of communication between you, local fishing clubs, the OFAH, the MNR, etc. that will subsequently determine the best possible future for Ontario's sportfish. As firefighters you have no choice but to agree that communication is the number one key determining factor when it comes to tackling major priorities. If you don't agree, ask your Chief!
No one group can be held responsible for such a major issue. No one group can bear the costs. No one can afford to lose such a good thing that Ontario waters have to offer. Be responsible for the future. Get involved.
