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MNR announces cormorant plan for 2002
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by Tom Sasvari and Neil Zacharjewicz
MANITOULIN - The Ministry
of Natural Resources has announced plans for an experimental
oiling of cormorant eggs this year. Paul Kelly, aide to the
Minister of Natural Resources, announced last week that experimental
oiling will take place this year in three locations: Manitoulin
Island, Parry Sound and Presquille. The Ministry of Natural
Resources (MNR) was expected to post the plan for oiling the
eggs on the Environmental Bill of Rights on Monday. According
to Caroline Knight, Communications Advisor with the MNR, "The
oiling of eggs will be implemented this spring, in May. The
EBR will be posted for a 30 day period to get input from the
public, and should be posted today (Monday), or Tuesday." Ms.
Knight noted the public will have an opportunity to post comments.
"If there is a huge outcry, that will obviously have to be considered.
It is not something we ignore," Ms. Knight stated. "We encourage
people to please pass along their comments." However, she noted
that dissent with the oiling of the eggs does not necessarily
mean the oiling would be called off, either, but that ways of
dealing with any concerns would have to be looked at. Ms. Knight
explained the egg oiling will include more monitoring and management
in the three areas, including the North Channel and Georgian
Bay. "At this point the ministry doesn't have any plans for
partnerships to do the work with other interested groups and
organizations, but we include liaising with non-government groups
on a number of projects. Once the input comes out on the EBR,
the partnership aspect is something we will have to look at,"
she said. Mr. Kelly pointed out in the first two years of a
five year management control plan for cormorants, over the last
two summers, a harassment initiative had been done by the MNR.
"No one can say that cormorants are not having affects on plants,
trees, forests, and vegetation in Presquile for instance, which
has affected other birds. Whether the cormorants are having
affects on fish is not clearly defined, and it's not justified
for a cull to take place," he stated. According to Ken Gibbons,
District Manager MNR, the harassment initiative on Manitoulin
took place two years ago on Lake Kagawong and Lake Mindemoya.
The initiative did help the ministry gather some data. "It showed
(harassment) has a very long term effect," Mr. Gibbons stated.
The decision to oil the eggs was not necessarily welcome news
to Jim Sloss, chair of the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin
(UFGCM). "They (MNR) just won't do anything. They have lied
to us right from the start," he stated. "In their original release,
the ministry had said in the second year of the cormorant management
control plan there would be an experimental cull, but they still
haven't done that." "It's something, but not what we were looking
for," said M'Chigeeng Chief Glen Hare. "I know this isn't enough,
they are giving us the smallest possible action they can." Concerns
with large cormorant populations have been promoted by groups
throughout Ontario and the United States, with several reports
showing the affects cormorants are having on fish populations.
Dave Brown, of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters,
pointed out meetings were held in the Bay of Quinte area earlier
this month, with the issue of cormorants figuring prominently.
"The Bay of Quinte had one of the best walleye fisheries in
North America, but stocks have substantially declined in the
1990's. And, in October the MNR proposed to totally close the
fishery as of January 1 (2002)," Mr. Brown said. He pointed
out in the area, the MNR has said there is a pretty substantial
First Nation harvest of fishing as well. "Presquille Bay has
an enormous cormorant population with about 10,000 pairs of
birds," said Mr. Brown. "When it was announced that there might
be a total closure of the fishery, they backed off because of
the public outcry. A lot of people at the meetings suggested
looking at cormorants, which are playing a huge part inthe loss
of fish." Michigan is another area where concerns have been
raised over cormorants. The Petoskey News-Review printed a story
in their January 14, 2002 edition, headlined: "Eastern U.P.
Consensus: Pesky bird must go." The article quotes members of
the "Bait Shop Boys" in the centre of the Great Outdoors Sporting
Goods store in Cedarville, Michigan calling the cormorant, "lamprey
with wings," and the "bird from hell." "We used to be known
as the Perch Capital of the World; now we're the cormorant capital,"
said Brian Harrison in the Petoskey-News Review article. U.S.
Representative Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, was adamant in stating
that he is ready to address the problem legislatively, with
proposals outlined in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Management Plan,
or independently, if agency actions do not provide remedy or
relief from "this nuisance." State representative Scott Shackleton,
of Sault Ste. Marie, was quoted as saying the issue should be
turned over to the state. Other local residents were quoted
in the News-Review article including one angler who indicated
that he used to be able to catch enough fish in an hour to feed
his family for days, but now can fish from dawn to dark and
be lucky to get a meal for himself. One fisherman was also quoted
in the News-Review as saying he disputes scientific studies
in the U.S. which conclude that overfishing is the cause for
the depleting fish stocks. He explained he had seen a cormorant
choking on a large pickerel, with about 15 inches sticking out
of its beak. The article points out there were only eight pairs
of nesting cormorants in 1977, and now there are more than two
million in the state of Michigan. Several of those quoted in
the News-Review article said that the culling of the birds is
the only way to bring back the fishery in their area and in
all of the state of Michigan. "The ministry feels the most prudent
course of action, to get concrete answers on what the birds
are doing on Manitoulin and in other areas is by doing more
research, and oiling of eggs this year," said Mr. Kelly. He
indicated that any type of cull would unlikely be established
by the MNR until the full five year management control plan
has been completed in 2004.
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Strong
turnout for public waterfront meeting
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by Michael Erskine
NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN AND THE ISLANDS (NEMI)---A
strong public turnout enforced the message that Low Island should
remain a public preserve and that the Little Current lifestyle
should be maintained, no matter what vision of future waterfront
development is chosen for the town. Over 65 people gathered
for the 7 pm meeting at the Little Current-Howland Arena, despite
a mere three days publicized notice, to listen to visions put
forward by the NEMI Community Development Corporation (CDC),
the Little Current Business Improvement Area (BIA) and a number
of concerned ordinary citizens, and to put forward their own
development ideas. NEMI Mayor Ken Ferguson laid down ground
rules for the discussion at the beginning of the meeting. "This
is an informal meeting to gather information," he said. "In
order that everyone's views will be heard, I will limit each
speaker to five minutes. Council is here as a group, to hear
your input, not to comment." Mayor Ferguson noted the development
of the waterfront is crucial to the economic well-being of the
entire town, and is probably one of the most crucial issues
to be faced by the current council. NEMI town council had previously
attempted to apply for a financial contribution for a waterfront
study under the tourism flagship program at the Northern Ontario
Heritage Fund Corporation. That proposal did not get past officials
at the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, in part because
the proposal was deemed to lack public input. The public consultation
meeting held last week was the beginning of the process for
a new application and was intended to address the issue of public
input, as well as to help identify two interested citizens who
would be willing to sit on a joint steering committee with members
of the BIA, CDC and NEMI Town Council to write new terms of
reference for the potential study. "We are here to see what
components you would like to see included in the study," said
Mayor Ferguson. "They will be considered, but please keep in
mind the practicality, liability and especially the affordability
of any project." Mayor Ferguson noted the decline in traditional
off-Island employment opportunities at INCO Limited and DOMTAR
and the need to develop employment opportunities closer to home.
"We have to look at filling that void here at home," he said.
NEMI Councillor Al MacNevin then gave a brief background of
the development of the waterfront study terms of reference.
"There have been a lot of misconceptions and confusion, especially
about the scope of the study," he said. "It was never my intention,
or the intention of anyone on the joint committee to commercially
develop Low Island. It was included in the study so that any
impact of the cruise ship industry on the area could be studied."
Mr. MacNevin said the initial committee did not have any concrete
plans in mind for the development of the waterfront. "We didn't
actually have a plan to develop anything outside of the dock
area," he said. The discussion began with requests from the
audience for clarification of the positions of the CDC and BIA
in regard to the development of the waterfront, as citizens
have perceived a clash of interests and vision in reports they
have read in the press. Gary Green, president of the CDC, said
that controversy sells newspapers, and that there was little
real difference of opinion between the two groups. John Hodder,
BIA representative, noted that he was retained by the organization
when original suggestions of closing the downtown area to vehicles
and the moving of the post office surfaced during the joint
committee discussions. Those two concepts were anathema to the
interests of the downtown merchants. Rick McCutcheon stated
for the record that the Island newspapers also support waterfront
development, and that any discussion of such development would
have to include Goat Island and the CPR docks if it is to be
successful. "Any study of the area is moot, unless Goat Island
cleanup is part of the study," he said. "Perhaps this is a good
opportunity to promote private partnership. Everyone who comes
here asks the same question, who owns that eyesore?" Mr. Ferguson
said the town was in a difficult position in dealing with the
CPR on the condition of the docks. "It is hard to be forceful
with someone when you need their cooperation in a project,"
he said. Joe Chapman, of Little Current, said he was pleased
to learn the town was open to public input on waterfront development.
He said that he felt any development of the area should be done
with the interests of the local citizens. "We need to focus
on the quality of life, not just of the downtown, but of the
whole waterfront," he said. "I don't believe that is inconsistent
with the interests of the tourism industry or resort operators.
Our own greatest asset is the natural condition of our shoreline,
and preserving its natural state is very important." Mr. Chapman
said he was particularly protective of the Low Island area,
and that he was very concerned about the state of the docks
in that area. "They are a deathtrap, just waiting for some young
child," he said. "Development should be for the people who live
here, not just the transient people." Mayor Ferguson said Low
Island was thought to be primarily a park for the people and
that any development in that area would most likely take the
form of a boardwalk and cleaning up the area to make it more
user friendly. Mr. Chapman asked for a consensus, "could we
see, perhaps, a showing of hands, laying to rest of any commercial
development of the area?" he asked. Mayor Ferguson noted that
the concerns would be taken into account by council, along with
input through other avenues. "We are not here to make any decisions
at this time," he said. "We are here to gather input into the
process. There will be a whole series of meetings, with the
CDC, BIA, NEMI council and the public members. Dr. David Stephen,
of Little Current, proposed an alternate plan for dockage of
small craft, anchoring them at the bow on the docks and to a
floating buoy at the stern, as is done in many European areas.
"This would not be very expensive and would increase the dockage
for major boats over the short term, without having to add a
single finger dock," he said. Kelly O'Hare, of Little Current,
brought forward the need for a proper welcome centre, with washrooms
and showers in the dock area downtown. "We really need a reception
area, a place where people can go and feel welcome," she said.
Christina Jones suggested the docks located below the Tourist
Welcome Centre would be a more appropriate place to land visitors
from the cruise ships. "There is a nice parking lot right close
by at the information booth," she said. "We can accommodate
the cruise passengers without having to clog the downtown with
buses and the docks when they come in. Duncan Pheasant has done
a wonderful job of landscaping the area for the town, it is
a very attractive spot." Joe Wilson, a new resident of Little
Current, said he had been told by Public Works crews doing ground
testing in the summer that the foundation and pilings of the
existing docks were 'just crap,' and he asked if the Department
of Small Crafts and Harbours did not have a responsibility to
clean the area up and make repairs. Mayor Ferguson answered
that those matters were under negotiation between the town and
the Federal government. Lorraine Ottley, of Little Current,
and a local crown attorney, said she had two main concerns with
the development. "Certainly promoting the economic development
is a goal for everyone," she said, "but I find myself in the
unusual position of agreeing with Mr. Chapman (a well known
local defence lawyer), any development must keep in mind the
preservation of the existing lifestyle of Little Current." Ms.
Ottley suggested that new types of development be considered,
including walking trails, petting zoos, and other things to
do and see in the area. "But whatever is done, it should always
meet the test of preserving the character of Little Current,"
she said. Siska Poenn, of Little Current, suggested the building
of a boardwalk between Low Island and the swing bridge would
be a worthwhile project. "Could we not have a walking trail?
A place where people can cross-country ski in the wintertime
and kids could skateboard and roller-blade. I see a lot of children
doing that on the roads and it is just not safe," she said.
Mr. Chapman said he would like to see local service clubs and
private citizens properly recognized for their contribution.
"We are very lucky to have the Lions Club," he said. "The only
reason we have Low Island at all is because they gave it to
the town. The Turner family donated a beautiful piece of land,
these donations should be recognized and the town should commit
to them as a sacred trust in perpetuity." Mayor Ferguson said
his council had "no intention of turning our public land over
to private interests." A suggestion that the library be moved
downtown received a negative reaction from the library board,
according to Mr. MacNevin. "They have been working on the current
plan for 20 years, they have raised nearly $70,000," he said.
"They are concerned that now they are going to be asked to put
everything on hold. The board's position is that they would
like to continue the current process." Tim Molyneux, of Sheguiandah,
said he would like to see downtown buildings turned into marketplaces.
Tammy Albers, of Little Current, said she would like to see
the downtown made into a more pleasing and attractive place
through the use of period storefronts and colour schemes. Other
ideas expressed at the meeting included: a small town office
service desk in an existing facility, but not a waterfront town
office; a natural stone amphitheater and strategies to direct
more traffic to the downtown core. After the meeting, people
expressed general satisfaction with the outcome. "A number of
good ideas have come forward which weren't there before," said
Mr. MacNevin, and he said he was surprised at the number of
people who did come out for the meeting. "Maybe we always generate
a lot of controversy about things before we have a public meeting,"
he laughed. Mayor Ferguson said he was pleased with the way
the meeting developed. "I was initially worried the meeting
was going to degenerate into a defence of where they all lived,"
he said. "But it got past all that." NEMI Councillor Carl Ziegler
said he found the meeting to be enlightening. "It was quite
interesting," he said. "There were more people out than I thought
there would be." "There were certainly a lot of good ideas brought
forward," said Mr. Green. "I would like to have seen more input
and even more good ideas brought forward from the community.
I have always believed we should have more meetings like this
in the community so that council, the CDC and everyone else
can know what people would like to see done in the community."
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New
fish regulations in place for inland lakes
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by Neil Zacharjewicz
MANITOULIN - Island fisherman have a new
consideration to take into account when fishing for walleye,
sauger or northern pike: slot size. The slot size is included
as part of the new fishing regulations for Division 28, the
inland lakes on Manitoulin, which came into effect as of January
1, 2002. Under the new regulations, the walleye and sauger season
runs from January 1 to March 31, and from May 18 to December
31. Fishermen with a sportsman license have a limit of four
per day, while those with a conservation license are limited
to two. Furthermore, only one of those fish may be greater than
22 inches in length, and none of them may be between 16.1 inches
and 22 inches in length. The northern pike season runs parallel
to the walleye and sauger season. Those fishermen with a sportsman
license are limited to six per day. Of those, only two may be
greater than 24 inches in length, and only one may be greater
than 34 inches in length. Those with a conservation license
are limited to two per day, of which one may be greater than
24 inches. Those with a conservation license are not permitted
to keep fish greater than 34 inches in length. According to
John Diebolt, Conservation Officer for the Ministry of Natural
Resources (MNR), the new regulations will have a minimal impact
on the packaging of fish for transport or storage. In fact,
he said the regulations remain as they always have, except for
the fact that fisherman actively engaged in the act of fishing
must keep their fish so the number, species and length are readily
identifiable. Once they have returned to their lodgings and
have filleted and packaged the fish for transport, they must
be packaged in a manner so that Ministry officials can tell
the number and species. The MNR suggests leaving a patch of
skin and scales on the fish for identification purposes. Reaction
to the new regulations on the Island has been mixed. "I was
kind of upset we weren't able to play a role in (developing
the new regulations)," suggested Jim Sloss, Chair of the United
Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin (UFGCM). "We were not made
a part of that process." In fact, the closest representative
on the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee (RFAC) which proposed
the regulations to the ministry was Brian Ramakko of Sudbury.
Mr. Sloss stressed that Manitoulin is unique because it is an
island which exists within a larger body of water, with unique
concerns such as the cormorant problem. He said few people are
fishing perch, bass or walleye because they are simply not there.
He added he would have liked to see the MNR take a wholistic
approach to fish problems the Island is faced with, as opposed
to simply imposing limits. "This tends to have the appearance
they are doing something about the problem," Mr. Sloss suggested.
"The problem is much deeper than just the limit." Mr. Sloss
added he was not opposed to a change in the limits, but wished
the UFGCM could have played a role in setting them. Bill Strain,
owner and operator of Whitehaven Cottages in Sheguiandah, also
expressed concern about the lack of Island representation on
the committee. "It seemed rather odd," he noted. Mr. Strain
sits on the Eastern Georgian Bay / North Channel Fisheries Stewardship
Council which has recommended to the government the new limits
for Divisions 16 and 17, the waters surrounding Manitoulin,
which are expected to take effect of January 1, 2003. He did
raise concern that the limits were different among the divisions,
which could present problems for conservation officers checking
fish. Mr. Strain suggested he does not have a lot of walleye
or pike fisherman visit his resort, but noted it might concern
cottagers in the areas of Lake Mindemoya, Windfall Lake, Pike
Lake and Silver Lake. Ken Short, owner and operator of Cedar
Grove Cottages, said while he has no objection to the new limits,
he is deeply concerned about the slot size. "It will cost us
a fortune," Mr. Short said. He estimated 90 percent of the walleye
his customers catch are between the sizes of 16 to 18 inches,
which under the new regulations fall outside of the slot size.
"You just can't keep them," he noted. He expressed concern with
the government promoting tourism, while at the same time nailing
tourist operators to the wall. He noted Americans pay approximately
$100 for their fishing license, and can't really catch any fish.
Furthermore, he pointed out the MNR conducted Fall Walleye Index
Netting (FWIN) last year, but the decision on the new regulations
was made before they even discovered the results. "It is just
another one of the many trials and tribulations of being a tourist
operator," Mr. Short said. "The fishing is so poor it won't
affect me at all," stated John Seabrook, owner and operator
of Pirate's Cove Cottages in Mindemoya. "I think the cormorants
have pretty well killed off all the fish." Mr. Seabrook added
his cottages only attract a small percentage of people who fish
anyway. Ken Gibbons, District Manager of the MNR, said in the
future the ministry will try and ensure there is Manitoulin
representation on stockholders committees which will make decisions
affecting the Island. He explained in this case, the committee
was not necessarily put together with local representatives,
but with stakeholders from a variety of associations, such as
the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, the Northern
Ontario Tourist Outfitters, the baitfish association, and the
tackle and bait industry. "It was about the best we could do
to keep it small," Mr. Gibbons suggested. He noted another question
he has been faced with is why the ministry has moved toward
regulations for the entire district. He explained in looking
at the old fishing summaries, there were virtually different
regulations for each lake, and fishermen practically had to
read up about each lake before they went out on the water. "This
was a way to get it standardized," he suggested. As to why Manitoulin
was not left out of the regulations, he explained if the MNR
reduced limits elsewhere, the fishermen would simply travel
to fish where the limits were higher. Mr. Gibbons stated this
would simply mean a movement in the fishing pressure, and would
not be a solution.
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