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DEC Announces State of Lake Ontario Fishing Meetings; Biologists to Update Status of Lake's Fisheries

The public will have an opportunity to learn about Lake Ontario fishing and "fisheries" from a group of biologists in Monroe, Niagara, and Oswego counties at free public meetings in March.

Biologists from the DEC, the US Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources will make presentations and meet with the public.

A "fishery" is defined as the area of water or sea bed where fish are caught and the people involved in catching them, i.e., the management of both fish and anglers.

A fishery can also be defined as the fish and fishers in a region, the fishing for similar species with similar gear types, the class of boats, the purpose of fishing activities, the capture of wild fish and/or raising fish through fish farming, or any combination of these.

According to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) commissioner, Joe Martens, Lake Ontario's fisheries are thriving.

Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support a variety of trout, salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish. New York's Lake Ontario comprises more than 2.7 million acres. A 2007 statewide angler survey estimated that more than 2.6 million "angler days" were spent on Lake Ontario and major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeds $112 million annually to the local New York State economy.

"Lake Ontario anglers continue to experience outstanding fishing on Lake Ontario and its tributaries," said Martens,""The State of Lake Ontario meetings (will) provide an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the lake to interact with the scientists who study its fisheries."

The meeting dates are as follows:

Monday, March 3: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at the Carlson Auditorium, in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science building (76-1125) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus. The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.

Thursday, March 13: 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport. The meeting is co-hosted by Niagara County Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Sportfishery Development Board.

Tuesday, March 18: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at the DEC Training Academy, 24 County Route 2A, Pulaski, Oswego County. The meeting is co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association.

At these meetings, the biologists will make presentations, including updates on the status of trout and salmon fisheries, forage fish, stocking programs and fisheries management plans. Afterward, the audience can interact with the presenters.

For more information go to: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27068.html or call Steven LaPan at Cape Vincent Fisheries Research Station (315) 654-2147.

 

 

Niagara Falls Reporter - Publisher Frank Parlato Jr. www.niagarafallsreporter.com

Feb 11, 2014