Ghost gill nets in the back of a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry truck. Photo by Trevor Thomas.
The MNRF, under intense public pressure, now appears ready to act against illegal gill netters on Lake Nipissing.
It's hoping to get the public’s help to identify the owners of gill nets that were left unattended in Lake Nipissing for a significant period of time in the month of June.
From June 7 to 23, several gill nets, set off the northeast corner of Great Manitou Island and left abandoned, were reported to the Ministry.
Conservation officers with the North Bay Enforcement Unit were able to locate and pull the nets, which contained decomposed fish.
"All of the nets were called in by members of the public," Tim Rochette of the North Bay Enforcement Unit told BayToday.
Of the five nets, "Two were drifting nets, likely from last fall," he explained.
Three nets were still properly set and were not adrift, but had been left unattended for an estimated three to seven days, or possibly up to 10 days.
A few fish were still alive, but most were dead and decomposed.
One net had a small black float on each end that could be used to locate the net, while another net had a white foam float and a small red float marking the ends.
None of the nets had any markings to identify ownership.
Most of the nets were found north-east of the Great Manitous, but one was found floating near the Goose Islands. Every net was pulled by the MNRF.
The MNRF is hopeful that the public can help to provide information leading to the owners of the nets.
But they don't want you to touch them.
"We don't want people playing with them," Rochette stated. "Our ultimate goal is public safety, so just give us a good description, GPS co-ordinates, or if they have coloured floats. Tell us if it is drifting or anchored."
If you have any information about these nets, please contact the MNR TIPS line at 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
