FROM THE ONTARIO MNRF ON THE LAKE OF THE WOODS WALLEYE POPULATION

HOOKED MAGAZINE: What is the issue with walleye population in Lake of the Woods – a) overharvest ? b) habitat loss? Other?
ONTARIO MNRF: MNRF data indicate that the Ontario waters of Lake of the Woods receives a substantial amount of fishing pressure.

What are the age frequency charts looking like a) spawning stocks impacted  b) all ages trending down?
From the biological samples we get from our netting and creel data. Relative to what we would expect in a normal fishery, the age distribution of walleye is skewed toward younger fish, with a lower biomass of mature fish that are responsible for the majority of reproduction in the population. Whether the younger fish are also at a lower biomass is currently being evaluated by MNRF fisheries biologists.

 What is telling Ontario biologists that things are going downhill with walleye in LOTW?
Our netting data tells us the biomass and mortality, and the creel data tells us about harvest pressure and the sizes of fish being retained. The creel survey results suggest that walleye harvest from the recreational fishery is consistently high. Given the population’s low biomass and that the walleye fishery is experiencing high fishing mortality, we are observing younger fish being harvested and fewer old, mature fish in the population.

While alone these lines of evidence do not tell us whether a stock is in rapid or slow decline, they do tell us that the vulnerability of the stock to unforeseen events or increased harvesting is troubling and requires management intervention.

 How/what was data collected, can you give me a breakdown on that, was/is it annual, seasonal, gill nets? Trapnets? Boat electrofishing? Creel census? First Nations harvest commercial harvest? Other
Currently, we capture information from index gillnetting and angler creel surveys on Lake of the Woods. The gillnetting standard uses a multi-panel gillnet to capture biological information from different species. This method is used as part of the Broad-scale Monitoring program in Fisheries Management Zones across Ontario and is a standard used across North America.

We also conduct summer and winter angler creel surveys to estimate angler effort and  harvest (fishing pressure) as well as demographics. In these surveys, MNRF staff count and conduct interviews with anglers.

 What is MNRF’s current vs proposed walleye sport harvest regulations?
Current regulations are consistent with the Zone-wide regulations for Fisheries Management Zone 5:
Season: January 1 to April 14 and 3rd Saturday in May to December 31
Limits:
Residents: Sport Licence 4/Conservation License 2; only one over 46cm
Non-Residents: Daily catch of S2/C2; only one over 46cm
Possession: S4/C2; only one over 46cm

ADVISORY COUNCIL

MNRF is currently working with the Lake of the Woods Fisheries Advisory Council to develop a recreational walleye management plan that will improve the status of the walleye population while at the same time recognizing the importance that the fishery plays socially and economically.

The Lake of the Woods Advisory Council has been established and continues to meet virtually. There are 21 members on the council representing anglers, the tourism industry, Indigenous communities and other interested parties.

We continue to work with the Lake of the Woods Fisheries Advisory Council to develop a recreational walleye management plan that will improve the status of the walleye population while at the same time recognizing the importance that the fishery plays socially and in the local economy.

A fisheries management plan sets out the desired future state for the fisheries, establishes goals and objectives to achieve that desired future and proposes management regulatory actions (i.e. catch limits and seasons) and non-regulatory actions (i.e. angler education, monitoring, research).

Following public review of the draft fisheries management plan, which will be posted on the Environmental Registry for Ontario, as well as consultation with Indigenous communities, MNRF staff will consider the feedback received and adjust the management plan if necessary.  Proposed changes to fishing regulations are reviewed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and, if approved, typically come into effect on January 1 of the following year. The posting date for the Lake of the Woods Fisheries Management Plan has not yet been determined.

Do you have commercial reduction, domestic harvest reduction buy-in by First Nations?
MNRF staff-initiated discussions with a number of Indigenous communities regarding the status of the walleye fishery, including commercial fishing on Lake of the Woods prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  There was mutual agreement that steps needed to be taken in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery on Lake of the Woods. Discussions are scheduled to resume in the Fall of 2021 once we can meet again in person.

What are the future plans to bring the walleye fishery back?
Please see response to Q5.

Has there been a reduction in angling pressure because of COVID and the closure of the border to U.S anglers?
MNRF conducted aerial surveys on Lake of the Woods and other areas in Northwestern Ontario in summer 2020 to better understand the change in fishing pressure due to the pandemic.  While fishing effort was generally lower across the region, it was not consistent in all areas.  For example, the reduction on Lake of the Woods was greater than what was observed near Thunder Bay.   The impact of this change in pressure on fish populations will be assessed through future monitoring, but generally it takes several years of reduced fishing pressure to result in a significant long-term change in the health of fish populations.