FISH MANAGEMENT ZONE 16 MANAGEMENT PLANNING

[Nittro]

Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry
Office of the Director
Southern Region
Regional Operations Division
300 Water Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Greetings,
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is initiating the planning
process for Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 16 to sustainably manage the diverse
fisheries found in southwestern Ontario (see attached map). The MNRF recognizes that
you have an interest in fisheries and fisheries management within the zone. Prior to the
commencement of the formal planning process in FMZ 16, the MNRF is interested in
hearing from you and would like to extend an invitation to participate in upcoming
Listening Sessions. These sessions will provide interested parties the chance to share
their thoughts on what a fisheries management planning process in FMZ 16 needs to
include and consider.

Background about Fisheries Management Planning
The MNRF has moved toward a broader landscape scale approach to managing
recreational fisheries by establishing 20 FMZs as the primary units for planning,
management and monitoring most fisheries in Ontario. Where they exist, management
plans for each FMZ document the desired future state of the fisheries resources by
identifying goals, objectives and appropriate management actions. For most
recreational fisheries, management actions are applied across the zone on a broad
scale.

Fisheries Management Zone 16
FMZ 16 is the most southerly inland Fisheries Management Zone in the province. FMZ
16 has important recreational and tourism-based fisheries, extensive river systems that
border 4 Great Lakes FMZs and large urban populations. As a result of the high level of
complexity involved with Fisheries Management Planning in FMZ 16, the MNRF is
incorporating additional opportunities for interested parties to participate throughout the
planning process. The first opportunities for participation are the Listening Sessions that
are being planned throughout FMZ 16.

Opportunities to Participate
Ministry staff are in the process of organizing Listening Sessions in four locations
across the zone and are open to hearing your thoughts about the fisheries and
Fisheries Management Planning in FMZ 16. We are holding daytime listening sessions
which are targeted for stakeholder groups and evening sessions that are open to the
public. Both the daytime and evening sessions will be held at the same location on the
same day.

If your group is interested in receiving further details about a daytime Listening
Session for stakeholder groups, please send an email to [e-mail] by
Friday November 3.

More information about the Listening Sessions that are open to the public will be
available soon through the Ontario.ca FMZ 16 webpage and MNRF social media
accounts. There will be further opportunities for participation in the FMZ 16 planning
process following the completion of the Listening Sessions.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is committed to engaging and working
with stakeholder groups throughout the planning process for FMZ 16. We look forward
to hearing your views at the Listening Sessions and welcome the opportunity to answer
questions and provide information.

Regards,
Sharon Rew
Regional Director
Southern Region
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Peterborough, Ontario

[Nittro]

Launch of the Planning Process

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) will be developing a plan to sustainably manage the diverse fisheries found in southwestern Ontario. As a first step, we’re inviting Indigenous communities, key stakeholders and members of the general public to participate in Listening Sessions.

Fisheries Management Zone 16
Fisheries Management Zone 16 has the largest urban population of any zone, as it includes all of southwestern Ontario. The zone includes many large cities such as Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, KitchenerWaterloo, London and Windsor.

We are taking the necessary time to consider this complex landscape, along with the interconnectedness of river fisheries with adjacent Great Lakes. Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching are included in the zone; however, they have been addressed through a separate fisheries management planning process.

Enhanced Engagement
The MNRF is incorporating an enhanced engagement approach into the planning process. We are undertaking enhanced engagement to ensure fisheries management in this area reflects the many different interests across the large geographic area covered by this fisheries management zone.

Listening Sessions

The MNRF will implement the first segment of the enhanced engagement approach by way of hosting Listening Sessions throughout the zone.

These sessions will provide interested parties the chance to share their thoughts on what a fisheries management planning process in this zone needs to include and consider.

Public Listening Session Details

Tuesday November 28, 2017; 7pm-9pm Nottawasaga Inn Resort & Conference Centre Alliston, Ontario

Thursday November 30, 2017; 7pm-9pm Best Western Plus Walkerton Hotel & Conference Centre Walkerton, Ontario

Tuesday December 5, 2017; 7pm-9pm Best Western Plus Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre London, Ontario

Thursday December 7, 2017; 7pm-9pm Waterfront Hotel Downtown Burlington Burlington, Ontario

Fisheries Management Planning in Ontario

The MNRF is responsible for managing Ontario’s fisheries through delegated authority from the Federal Government to sustainably manage inland fisheries, and administer and enforce the Ontario Fishery Regulations.

Fisheries management plans are strategic documents that reflect on the current and future states of fisheries within a zone. Planning is focussed on ensuring the sustainability of fisheries and informs the allocation of fisheries resources within the planning area to provide a range of social, cultural and economic benefits.

Fisheries management follows a cycle of:
 planning  implementing strategies
 monitoring and reporting
 evaluating success

The MNRF Provincial Fish Strategy, Fish for the Future, provides direction for the management of Ontario’s fish, fisheries and supporting ecosystems. This includes management and planning at appropriate scales and enhanced public involvement in fisheries management.

Scale of Fisheries Management Planning

Many stressors on fisheries, such as fishing pressure, invasive species and climate change, operate at broad scales, beyond the level of a local stream or lake. These stressors must be understood and managed at the landscape level.

In 2008, the MNRF moved toward a broader landscape scale approach to managing recreational fisheries by establishing 20 Fisheries Management Zones (FMZs) as the primary units for planning, management and monitoring most fisheries in Ontario.

FMZs help the province manage the individual needs and nature of each zone by customizing catch limits and seasons to:
 allow more fishing in thriving fisheries
 protect vulnerable fisheries
 re-establish fish populations


For more information on FMZ 16 and opportunities to get involved, please go to our website at
www.ontario.ca/page/fisheriesmanagement-zone-16-fmz-16 or
email at [e-mail]