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Great Lakes
Article:
Toronto - Fisheries management plan
will improve health of bay ecosystem
http://www.communitypress-online.com/
Published December 1, 2005
The Ontario government is further protecting the Bay of
Quinte’s ecosystem by seeking public input on the development
of a fisheries management plan for the area, Natural Resources
Minister David Ramsay announced November 30.
“The Bay of Quinte has seen significant improvement since
the start of the remedial action plan in 1986,” said Ramsay.
“This plan is the next step in that process and we want
the public’s input to ensure the plan will benefit the
ecosystem and the fish communities over its five-year
term.”
The first open house, which will review the state of fish
communities in the bay, will be held Wednesday, December
7, 2005 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Fairfield Inn and Suites,
Belleville (North Front Street at Highway 401).
A second set of open houses will be held in late spring
2006 in order to present management options for public
comment, with an approved fisheries management plan to
be finalized by September 2006.
“This is a great opportunity for the public to help us
decide how to manage our fisheries,” said Ramsay. “We’ll
be building on the tremendous efforts that are helping
ensure healthy fish populations in the Bay of Quinte.”
“I encourage local residents and all those interested
in the Bay of Quinte’s renowned fishery to get involved
in the process,” said Ernie Parsons, MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings.
“We all have a role to play in taking care of this resource.”
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Bay of Quinte
Fisheries Advisory Committee are leading the development
of the Bay of Quinte Fisheries Management Plan, which
will be in place from 2007 to 2012. The management plan
will be developed with a focus on the Bay of Quinte, but
with recognition of its connection to Quinte-area tributaries
and to Lake Ontario. This will ensure that fisheries management
occurs at an ecosystem level. The plan will review the
historical conditions of the Bay of Quinte, document physical
attributes, describe existing and future conditions and
provide a comprehensive package of recommendations for
the management of the fish communities in the bay.
The development of a plan is part of the commitment of
Ontario and Canada to restore the natural environments
in the Great Lakes under the Canada-Ontario Agreement
Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA). Ontario
will be contributing $50,000 under COA toward the development
of the plan.
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