MNR Minister Michael Gravelle fires back at Fedeli

MPP Vic Fedeli has recently written an open letter regarding walleye catch limits on Lake Nipissing. I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond.

First of all, I think it is distinctly unfair for MPP Fedeli to suggest that our decision to reduce the catch limits for walleye is 'the easy way out'. The fact is that our Ministry officials are extremely aware of the importance of the Lake Nipissing fishery from a recreational and tourism point of view. Decisions such as the one we have made are never easy but 'this' is certainly one that is based on MNR's clear mandate to ensure the 'long term' sustainability of the Lake Nipissing walleye fishery. Ultimately, the decision to reduce the daily catch limits is just one part of a broader long term strategy for the lake.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has been conducting regular monitoring of Lake Nipissing since the 1970's. An extensive review of walleye production data conducted by a renowned fisheries specialist hired by the Ministry, whose work was reviewed by internal and external scientists, revealed that the walleye population in the lake was in a 'stressed' condition. The review investigated all potential causes of the decline (including climate change, invasive species and other factors) and concluded that fishing is a critical factor. It was also clear from the review that maintaining current harvest levels would further threaten the population. As a result, the Ministry established an advisory committee to provide advice to MNR on potential management actions for the lake's walleye population.

After listening carefully to the views of the various advisory committee members, we made the difficult but important decision to implement a change in the catch limits effective January 1, 2013; a change that is but a first step in a broader set of management actions clearly focused on addressing the long term sustainability of the walleye population.

Our commitment to proceed with a long term management plan for Lake Nipissing, with the advice and input of our advisory committee, is a firm priority of our Ministry. That means we will continue to seriously consider other management options, including exploring additional angling opportunities for other species (yellow perch, for example) as well as examining ways to more strongly support community based stocking. It is also important to note that our Ministry will be continuing a dialogue with local First
Nations regarding the commercial fishery. In that regard, it is vital to say that local First Nations have a shared interest in the sustainability of the walleye fishery and have, indeed, taken specific actions to address the declining populations; including Nipissing First Nation implementing a voluntary spring walleye moratorium.



As for the view that stocking can entirely resolve the issue of a decline in the walleye population, our Ministry biologists believe that stocking walleye will not be enough to stimulate recovery of the population in Lake Nipissing, particularly when one of the critical factors that needs to be addressed is the mortality rate of young walleye; let alone the fact that science and history have shown us that there is a poor success rate when stocking walleye in large water bodies such as Lake Nipissing that have had good natural reproduction.

Having said that, I am very aware of a proposal to increase the stocking effort on Lake Nipissing by a local volunteer group. Please be assured that Ministry staff are looking seriously at their most recent proposal and, in that regard, I have asked our Ministry officials to meet with the group as soon as possible to discuss how we can move forward.

While we do not believe that stocking is the only solution to the problem of the declining walleye population, we do acknowledge that these efforts may potentially be part of an over-all long term management plan.

We are absolutely committed to rebuilding the walleye fishery in Lake Nipissing and will continue working with all our stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome to this unquestionably complex issue. Difficult as the decision was, reducing the daily catch is an important first step to population recovery, a step that will protect young fish while still maintaining protection of important spawning size walleye through the existing protected slot.

Lake Nipissing continues to support quality angling opportunities for species such as yellow perch, bass, muskellunge and northern pike. Our Ministry will continue to promote the Lake Nipissing fishery in its entirety to further support the recovery of the walleye population. In that regard, we are further committed to working with tourism industry representatives to try to minimize negative impacts on the industry as we work together to rebuild the walleye population in Lake Nipissing.

I understand the pivotal role MPP Fedeli plays as the provincial Member for Nipissing and, as always, I appreciate the opportunity to work with him on issues such as this, which are so important to his constituents.


Michael Gravelle
Minister of Natural Resources