LAKE MANITOU—The question of the Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry (MNRF) taking walleye spawn from Lake Manitou but with no reciprocal stocking of the popular game fish in the Island’s largest lake remains a concern for the Lake Manitou Area Association (LMAA).
In fact, a recent meeting between representatives of the LMAA and the MNRF, requested by the Island organization to air its concerns, has been deemed a positive experience.
“There were no definitive commitments made but we got the sense that the MNRF is willing to talk about it and take input from other groups as well,” stated Mike Costigan, chair of the LMAA after a meeting held in September. “At least there seems to be a willingness on the ministry part to discuss the issue. It may not happen overnight, but we can open this up to further discussion.”
“We are trying to be proactive, and there will be ongoing discussions with the ministry. We walked away feeling it was a very positive and constructive meeting,” said Mr. Costigan.
He explained, “basically after our annual general meeting in August we formed a committee, met and have three representatives of LMAA and four members who brought forward issues.”
The LMAA committee’s goal “is to develop and improve the communications relationship with the MNRF around management of the Lake Manitou fishery,” said Mr. Costigan. “We ended up putting forward a letter to Dennis Gendron, MNRF district management biologist and requested information from him. Basically, we wanted information as a starting point. We asked for a report on the last 10 years on the lake concerning pickerel spawn, how many eggs they (MNRF) have taken out and how many fry they have put into the lake.”
“We also asked for information on the broadscale netting they have been carrying out since 2011,” said Mr. Costigan. “We also wanted to know if the ministry has a research program related to changes in the fish population in the lake, fisheries reports submitted on other species of fish in the lake like rock bass. We also requested information on if there is a public domain where this type of information is posted.”
“We sent out the letter requesting a meeting and the concerns we raised to the MNRF and 10 days later received a response from Mr. Gendron who said they were more than willing to meet with us,” said Mr. Costigan. He suggested a virtual meeting take place. On September 6, our committee met with not only Dennis but with Derrick Luetchford, resource management coordinator for the Sudbury district MNRF. He noted the meeting proceeded for two hours.
“This is providing a voice for our members on issues involving the lake,” said Mr. Costigan. “Dennis provided information on the broadscale netting program and then provided an opportunity at the end for questions to be asked.”
“As the conversation took place there was more focus on the walleye issue,” said Mr. Costigan. “We got the sense that they are open to having another voice and other groups contribute and speak to them about the lake.” He pointed out ‘Fish Online’ provides information about broadscale netting for all lakes in Ontario.
Mr. Gendron mentioned his predecessor was reluctant to put walleye spawn back into the lake, said Mr. Costigan, “but Dennis was open about talking about this issue. There would possibly need to be some type of project of looking at stocking pickerel in the lake as a starting point, not taking more eggs out of the lake and leaving the spawn in the lake to grow the population.”
Mr. Luetchford said in a statement, “In September, MNRF met with a committee of the LMAA to discuss the fishery and the possibility of stocking walleye into the lake. Gathering walleye eggs from the lake helps support fisheries in the Northeast region, benefiting anglers in many local lakes. We will continue to work with the association and to improve sustainable fishing opportunities on Lake Manitou and across Ontario.”
Mr. Costigan said the LMAA committee will be meeting with MNRF officials again in November.
Walleye are not stocked from the Blue Jay Creek Fish Culture Station into Lake Manitou, despite the fish being taken out of the lake and stocked in other waters in Ontario, those in attendance at the LMAA meeting in August were told. While this could take place someday, it would be a decision based on an assessment by the Sudbury District office of the MNRF, representatives of the fish culture station told the meeting.
Victoria Cranston and Shannon Gauthier of the fish culture station explained the decision for stocking any fish is made in the Sudbury district office of the MNRF. “There is a very high walleye population on Manitoulin Island,” Ms. Gauthier said. “There has been talk of stocking walleye in Lake Manitou over the years,” she added, suggesting LMAA could reach out to the Sudbury district office.
“I disagree that walleye haven’t been stocked in Lake Manitou,” stated Ted Williamson, who was in attendance at the August meeting. “Walleye have been in the lake for many years.”
Ms. Gauthier had noted at the meeting in the summer that the walleye in Lake Manitou are a unique genetic strain, and there are lakes that don’t have any walleye. “And some of the lakes (where walleye fish spawn is stocked) are experimental lakes.”
