DEC Announces Lake Ontario Fisheries Public Meetings

[Stephen Glassic]

I just found out about these meetings. It is too late for the meetings in Rochester and Pulaski but I thought I would pass it along in case any members want to attend the Lockport meeting tonight. The meeting is about the alewife situation in Lake Ontario and related salmonoid management.

DEC Announces Lake Ontario Fisheries Public Meetings

Biologists Will Discuss Status of Lake Ontario's Alewife Population

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced upcoming public meetings on the status of Lake Ontario's alewife population and the salmon and trout fisheries it supports. Public meetings will be held during November in Oswego, Niagara, and Monroe counties. An online meeting will also be held to provide additional opportunity for public participation.

"Lake Ontario and its tributaries provide world-class salmon and trout angling opportunities," Commissioner Seggos said. "Salmon and trout fishing in Lake Ontario has been outstanding this season and DEC remains committed to ensuring that the ecological, recreational, and economic benefits of this sport fishery are sustained through science-based management practices."

Alewife are small forage fish that make up a significant portion of salmon and trout diets in Lake Ontario, especially Chinook salmon. During the meetings, biologists from DEC and the United States Geologic Survey will present the latest science that will help guide DEC and the Province of Ontario determine trout and salmon stocking levels for 2020. The public will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Meeting dates and locations are as follows:

Wednesday, Nov. 6: 6:30 - 9 p.m., Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, Rochester, Monroe County.

Thursday, Nov. 7: 6:30 - 9 p.m., Pulaski High School auditorium, 4624 Salina Street, Pulaski, Oswego County.

Wednesday, Nov. 13: 6:30 - 9 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, Niagara County.

Thursday, Nov. 14: 6:30 - 9 p.m.: This meeting will be conducted online. To join the meeting, click here. If asked for a meeting number or a password use the following: Meeting number: 641 790 213, Password: PCVMcPX3

Upon joining the meeting, the caller will be prompted to connect to audio using their computer. Those who prefer to connect to audio via phone may do so by calling this toll free number: 1-844-633-8697, access code: 641 790 213.

Those who cannot attend a meeting can still provide comments via email at [e-mail]. For further information contact Chris Legard by calling [phone] or by mail to: DEC Lake Ontario Unit Leader at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station.

 

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYSDEC/bulletins/266a0ae

[Stephen Glassic]

Larry, I understand that, but the lake trout population has more than come back. I am just saying that if the DEC is interested in lowering the lake trout population as a tool to help stabilize the alewife population, they may need to do more than what they are proposing since lake trout have been having good reproduction success, have a long lifespan and have low fishing pressure.

The USFW effort to bring back lake trout has been successful. Whether or not the population is the same as in the past should not be a question. The lake will never be brought back to it's previous state. The important thing is to try and manage a healthy balance to avoid a major cascading crash throughout the food chain.

Further reduction of salmon stocking will face strong objections. Unfortunately, some things are beyond the control of fisheries managers. They have to use what tools they have. How much to use each tool is a real balancing act. But there could be a real risk of a cascading crash in the food chain anyway.

Capt. Larry D. Jones said:

Steve,You need to remember the U.S.F.W. considers Lake Trout first ,native species of Lake Ontario.Salmon & Steelhead being non native will always get cut first to balance ecosystem!

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Steve,Chinook Salmon eat 3 1/2 times more Alwives then Lake Trout!