The Nipissing First Nation doesn’t want any recreational ice fishing for walleye on Lake Nipissing during the 2016-2017 ice fishing season.
It’s asking the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to cancel the upcoming season in an effort to address stressed population numbers.
This call comes as the NFN closed its commercial fishery for the season on August 31st to remain within the recommended safe harvest level. The NFN views closing the recreational winter walleye fishery not only as a sound measure based on science and data, but also as a gesture towards reconciliation.
Chief Scott McLeod says this would be a temporary cancellation and he’s asking everyone to go through short term pain for long term gain. McLeod says people can still fish for other species like yellow perch.
McLeod says past ice fishing seasons have damaged the walleye population and a temporary ban is one way to help it recover.
