From June to September 2024, MNRF science crews will be setting nets on approximately 100 lakes (please see attached maps) in Fisheries Management Zones across the province.
Inland Lakes Monitoring is designed to monitor the current and changing state of inland fisheries in Ontario. MNRF science field crews will collect information on fish species, take water samples, and check for invasive species. Netting on each lake will take five to eight days to complete. While the lake is being assessed, nets are checked and moved daily to new locations and all nets are clearly marked with the Ontario logo. Please do not lift the nets or buoys and avoid recreational activities between and around the buoys. Notices will be posted at various locations on the lake, such as public boat launches and retail stores, while netting is underway.
In addition, MNRF science crews will be conducting summer recreational angler surveys on specific lakes. This includes:
- Lake of the Woods
- Lake Nipissing
- Rice Lake
- Lake Simcoe
During recreational angler surveys MNRF science crews will be counting and interviewing
anglers (by boat), recording the number of fish kept and released and hours fished. Biological information will also be collected from fish that anglers keep, including lengths and weights. This allows biologists to determine the average size of fish harvested. The information collected from this survey will be used to estimate the harvest of sportfish and angling pressure and compare the results to historical angler surveys. While participation is voluntary, MNRF appreciates all information that is shared with our field staff during the summer angler survey.
I’ve attached a fact sheet with more information about Inland Lakes Monitoring, and lake-
specific survey results are available on the Fish ON-line website. For more information about our 2024 fisheries monitoring activities, as well as other MNRF fish and wildlife related initiatives, follow our fish and wildlife social media feeds:
- https://www.facebook.com/FishWildlifeON
- https://twitter.com/FishWildlifeON
- https://www.instagram.com/fishwildlifeon
If you have any questions about the fieldwork, please contact Blair Wasylenko, Provincial
Aquatics Monitoring Program Lead, at blair.wasylenko@ontario.ca.