Fisheries Management Zone 20 Council

[Shane Thombs]

The Fisheries Management Zone 20 is Lake Ontario and it's tributaries as determined by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)

This year for the first time in many years, the MNR has initiated a Advisory committee focused on the fishery for Zone 20. The Council is comprised of various stakeholders with a variety of interests. From Fisheries Biologists, Anglers (multi-species), Fishing Club affiliations, Charter Operators, Commercial Fisherman, and Native interests.

I have been asked to participate on the Council and relay issues, ideas, and collectively with the Council help advise the MNR. I wear the hat of Club Offiliation with the Strait Line Anglers Club as well as my involvement in the Association of Southern Ontario Angling Clubs.

It is my responsibility to draw your ideas and keep you informed of the workings of the FMZ 20 Council. As well, each of the clubs in the Association will also be updated with the councils happenings to spread information and feedback mechanisms to the network of anglers.

On this thread I will include posts related to the council.

Shane Thombs

[Shane Thombs]

The first Council meeting was held on the evening of December 10th in Belleville. I was unable to attend, but 14 members were able to make it including Randy Scott (club member and charter operator) and Wayne Andrews (charter operator). The meeting was a summary of the purpose, responsibilities and to cover the administrative items of the council.

Council members left the meeting with some action items, most significantly each of the members are to return to the next meeting with a list of the three most important issues for the sector that they are representing.

If you have any issues, for example, rod limits, catch and keep limits, cormorant control, fishing seasons, etc., please send them to me by PM on this board or email [e-mail]. Be sure to label the subject line FMZ 20 so I don't consider it spam.

FMZ 20 meetings will initially be held each month and our next meeting will be later in January.

I will publish the minutes once they have been finalized and agreed upon by the council.

Shane Thombs

[Shane Thombs]

Memo to: Fisheries Management Zone Advisory Council Members and MNR Lake Unit Staff.

As you know two new Great Lakes Vessels are being built.

The former Great Lakes Branch solicited nominations for vessel names from the Fisheries Management Zone Advisory Councils for Huron/Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario as well as internal MNR staff.

On March 19th the Minister released the names of the two new vessels: Huron Explorer I and Ontario Explorer:

The Huron and Ontario vessels join the Erie Explorer to create an impressive fleet of assessment vessels.

Huron Explorer I is expected in early June, 2010 while Ontario Explorer is expected in August, 2010.

The new Explorers have been designed as multi-purpose assessment vessels capable of conducting gill netting, trawling, and hydroacoustics surveys.

I would like to thank everyone who submitted names for consideration.