The public can participate in the stewardship of lake sturgeon by:
- Respecting current fishing regulations for lake sturgeon (ontario.ca/fishing)
- Reporting illegal poaching of lake sturgeon to the ministry’s TIPS line 1-877-TIPS-MNR - (847-7667). You can also report violations to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or at (www.outdoors.on.ca/wildlife/index.html)
- Expressing views on proposed changes to fishery regulations and river developments at public open houses or through Ontario’s Environmental Registry (ontario.ca/environmentalregistry)
- Getting involved in local restoration or awareness projects.
 |
|
Figure 7. Timmins Fur Council and family members relocating lake sturgeon to the Mattagami River near Timmins. Photo by Andy Chartand.
|
 |
| Figure 8. Ontario Power Generation Inc. outreach program with St. Patrick's Catholic School students at Little Long Generating Station. Photo by Darcy Heon. |
For example, Club Navigateur La Ronde of Timmins took high school students to the Groundhog River to observe spawning lake sturgeon every spring from 1994 to 2004. This activity was part of the club’s initiative to improve public knowledge of river ecology.
Similarly, in 2003, Timmins Fur Council, Club Navigateur La Ronde, Ontario Power Generation Inc., and Domtar Wood Products Inc. worked together to transfer wild lake sturgeon to a section of the Mattagami River near Timmins (Figure 7). Their goal was to re-establish a lake sturgeon fishery that once existed. In 2007, young lake sturgeon were captured here indicating lake sturgeon were successfully reproducing in the area.
Industry plays a role in public education and helps maintain sturgeon populations. For example, near the Little Long Generating Station on the Mattagami River, Ontario Power Generation annually relocates lake sturgeon that become trapped in the Adam Creek diversion channel during high spring flows (Figure 8). In some years, up to 1,000 fish are rescued.
Previous page... Outlook for the resource | Next page... Information sources
