TEMPORARY FISHERY CLOSURE WILL PROTECT SPECIES
Interim closure of Aurora trout fishery complies with new federal species at risk requirements
TORONTO - Ontario's Aurora trout fishery will be closed this season to give provincial fishery managers time to comply with a requirement of the new federal Species at Risk Act to develop a species recovery strategy, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.
"Every year, the ministry allows a limited fishery for Aurora trout on two or three of the nine northern lakes where this species is stocked for angling," said Ramsay. "This yearšs Wynn Lake and Borealis Lake fisheries will not open on August 1 as scheduled, to give the ministry time to develop a recovery strategy for Aurora trout. We look forward to re-establishing the Aurora trout fishery next year with the strategy in place so that we can better protect this species."
There are only two lakes in Ontario where Aurora trout reproduce naturally and they have been designated as year-round sanctuaries by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The Aurora trout disappeared from these lakes in the early 1960s due to acid rain. As a result of ministry actions to reduce acidity by adding lime to the lakes, and stocking fish, the lakes are again supporting self-sustaining populations of this species.
The ministry stocks nine other northern lakes with Aurora trout to provide limited angling opportunities for the species. This limited fishery, with a possession limit of one fish, does not pose a risk to the provincešs naturally reproducing populations of Aurora trout.
"We will continue to work with Ontario anglers and with the federal government to take the necessary steps toward restoring the Aurora trout in Ontario," said Ramsay. "In addition, by stocking lakes and providing a limited Aurora trout fishery, we are raising awareness of this special fish and of the need to protect all species at risk."
The federal Species at Risk Act came into effect in June 2003 and the protection and enforcement aspects of the act took effect on June 1, 2004.
Contact:
Jeff Brinsmead
Ministry of Natural Resources
(705) 235-1207
