MP Jamie Schmale and MPP Laurie Scott met with The Honourable Nathalie Des Rosiers, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Though a short meeting, an accurate description of the state of the walleye fishery was conveyed, and line-items were presented that outlined the changes that need to be made in order to achieve positive change.
Stories sent to us by concerned constituents were shared with the Minister to paint a picture of how things have gotten worse over the last 50 years. Statements of decline to support our pilot projects from the MNRF office in Peterborough were also shared with the Minister to demonstrate the kind of inactivity and pushback coming from Zone 17 management over the last three years (though this pushback has been happening for decades).
It is our hope that Minister Des Rosiers will implement a strategy that is one of action going forward—one that provides Zone 17 with better management under her charge.
Do you have a story to share? Or photos? If you have seen poaching, illegal fishing practices, fish kills, examples of low water, or how the decline of walleye and fishing tourism has affected you, please share them! We want to ensure truthful accounts make it to the minister.