OFAH Insider: Your voice in fisheries management

Ontario’s 250,000 lakes and extensive network of rivers and streams are home to our valuable fisheries. These resources provide countless recreational and angling opportunities, as well as being a source for food, jobs, and tourism experiences. Approximately 1.2 million anglers fish in Ontario each year, generating $2.2-billion towards the provincial economy. Responsible management is a fundamental component of fisheries conservation, is the backbone to the sustainability of the resource, and ensures current and future generations will have the opportunity to experience great fishing in Ontario.

The OFAH works in partnership with all levels of government, stakeholder organizations, and individuals to conserve fisheries while enhancing angling opportunities in a variety of ways:

• Promoting our fishing heritage (TackleShare, youth programs, fishing events)

• Providing expert input and comment on fisheries issues and topics (policy documents, habitat, dams, invading species, water quality, biodiversity, bait, pollution, forestry impacts, etc.)

• Proactively working with municipalities to prevent fishing access restrictions
  
• Coordinating and implementing the Community Hatchery Program that helps to stock millions of fish each year
  
• Holding governments responsible for proper fisheries management by providing critical, scientific input into fisheries-related issues
  
• Actively participating in the fisheries management planning process through representation on all active Fisheries Management Zone councils across the province
  
• Partnering to bring back Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario
  
• Influencing provincial fisheries management decisions through the OFAH Fisheries Advisory Committee and OFAH zones
  
• Supporting scientific research through the OFAH Student Grants program and the OFAH Fish & Wildlife Fund
  
• Cleaning up, restoring, and enhancing critical fish habitat through OFAH clubs, programs, and partnerships

Reminders:

The OFAH reminds you to know what’s in your bait bucket.
Find baitfish species here:
www.ontario.ca/faq/what-kinds-baitfish-can-i-use-live-bait

Originally published in the Ontario OUT of DOORS 2018 Fishing Annual

For more fishing, click here

Click here for more outdoors news

Watch on-demand videos anytime on OFAH Stream