Crackdown on lake trout fishing

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

****************************** Area enforcement blitz aimed at protecting lake trout

The Ministry of Natural Resources will be targeting natural lake trout fisheries in addition to regular fisheries patrols during an upcoming enforcement blitz in the northeast until March 15.

Conservation officers from Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, Kirkland Lake, Timmins, Chapleau, North Bay and Sudbury will be out checking anglers to make sure they are following the regulations.

In Fishery Management Zone 10 in particular, opportunities for angling natural lake trout have been restricted.

While only one percent of Ontario’s lakes contain lake trout, the province is home to one quarter of all such lakes in the world.

Lake trout are slow to reach reproductive maturity and are very susceptible to winter angling.

To protect the stock, the lake trout open season for winter fishing is shorter.

The season runs annually from February 15 to March 15 or the third Sunday in March, unless noted otherwise.

Conservation officers may also enforce the Off Road Vehicle Act, Motorized Snow Vehicles Act and sections of the Liquor Licence Act.

Anglers are reminded to have all valid licences, and to follow all catch, possession and size restrictions.

They should also be aware of ice conditions and take precautions to ensure their safety.

For more information on fishing regulations, please consult the 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary before heading out to fish.

The summary is also available at ServiceOntario/ Government Information Centres, licence issuers and on the ministry’s website.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours.

You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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