Threats to the Future of Lake Winnipeg

[snow]

Trip, we went down that road with red lake and boycotting the native casino's here in Mn around mille lacs,does'nt work as planned,plus they ship these fish all over the country and sell'em boot legged as well,anything for a buck,natives they caught around mille lacs were getting about $3/lb for walleye,natives got a slap on the hands,the blame and fines were stapled to the non natives. Google "Operation Square Hook" and read more.

 

[dean nelson]

God it got annoying listening to him calling them pickerel! You would think a biologist would use correct names not a local ones that are put on the wrong species!

Yeah I've seen places where guys call perch bluegill it still sounds dumb coming out of a biologists mouth. There are two forms of pickernel the American and the Chain in north america and both are members of the pike family not the perch family. They have the same name in Canada it's just various groups that call them by another fishes name.

 

[Zogman]

Are there native Americans in Canada?
Is this a tribal thing?
Do they call Indians in Canada native Americans?
If an American moves to Africa, do they call that person an American African regardless of the persons color?

They are called First Nation.

 

[gst]

Spoke with a commercial fisherman while on a trip back from the Pas. He fished on i believe 13 different lake with his permits. It was interesting. He actually had done netting for the Dept of Fisheries for their studies. They targeted different size/age fish thru the use of various size nets. He had a lot of information that was found out that had not been filtered.

the first thing he explained is that I think it was 11 years ago there was a perfect storm during spawning. Water levels being held up for extended periods impacting spawning above what is normal in a positive manner like had rarely ever been seen. That is why here the last few years the large fish have been coming out of this lake and others in the area. He said that is going to start declining simply because the life age of the walleye there was 14 years. They are being caught or dying naturally. (he also mentioned how many blind walleyes were being caught and said they determined that wa from being caught in cold temps kept out of teh water too long and then returned, these cloudy eyed/blind walleyes weighed less/age than healthy walleye)

He talked about lakes the fisheries had built staging ponds on the rivers filling them and other practices that aided in higher spawning rates that were very effective in creating larger numbers of age class walleye that long term will build fisheries better than many other things.

He also talked extensively about the "eco sustainable" designation of Lake Waterhen. (we were in a resturant just 30 miles from that lake) As someone who makes his living selling fish he said yes they did have a demand by consumers in geographic markets wanting these "eco" fish, but the demand was NOT what the group trying to influence the fish board was claiming it was. (I would image it is about the same percentage of consumers that are "demanding" "sustainable" beef which is about 12% (they want it but do not want to pay more for it ) They had done independant studies and found about that percentage of consumers demanding this "eco" fish. He is involved in creating an independent marketing coop outside the fish board and was extremely knowledgable about marketing fish.

He said the fish board is a bit like the mafia and the govt is as corrupt as anything. And this"eco certification" will be used to control and remove fishermen from the lake. I understand he is a commercial fisherman but he spoke a great deal supporting some of the things they need to do to maintain the lake and improve it, even talking about changing the multi species quota sytem.

It seems the largest concern in this video in the "eco certification" and this guys veiw on that was allow the market itself to determine it as to recoup a value rather than force an agenda which becomes a cost. It was a very interesting conversation.

I guess when you see the words "Wildlife Federation" (the sponsor of the video) one thinks agenda driven policy that should maybe be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[dean nelson]

Perhaps but to say let the market set the course is insanely slanted as well. Looking back at history letting the market control wildlife populations tends to leed to the destruction of the resource.

 

[MSA]

Wow, commercial fishing can take 14 million pounds of walleye from winnipeg...at that point, why even have regulations for hook n line fisherman.

 

[SDMF]

Wow, commercial fishing can take 14 million pounds of walleye from winnipeg...at that point, why even have regulations for hook n line fisherman.

'Cause 'Sconi's are still capable of driving there.

 

[gst]

Perhaps but to say let the market set the course is insanely slanted as well. Looking back at history letting the market control wildlife populations tends to leed to the destruction of the resource.

the labeling of a lake based on arbitrary standards is a bit different than commercial hunting or fishing.

The guy in the video claims it is consumer driven. Okay let consumers and their demands for "eco" fish drive the rate at which these arbitrary labels are applied to lakes.

And yes they ARE arbitrary unless you can define " ecologically sustainable" in a manner EVERYONE will agree with.

Name one govt mandated program such as this that is efficient or effective.

It is something like Country of origin labeling of beef. When the govt mandated it, it was a cost, when producers meet consumer demands it is an opportunity.

 

[riverview]

40 years ago my parents used to buy gunny sacks full of frozen pickerel from lake wpg for lent. been going on a long long time.

 

[dean nelson]

the labeling of a lake based on arbitrary standards is a bit different than commercial hunting or fishing.

The guy in the video claims it is consumer driven. Okay let consumers and their demands for "eco" fish drive the rate at which these arbitrary labels are applied to lakes.

And yes they ARE arbitrary unless you can define " ecologically sustainable" in a manner EVERYONE will agree with.

Name one govt mandated program such as this that is efficient or effective.

It is something like Country of origin labeling of beef. When the govt mandated it, it was a cost, when producers meet consumer demands it is an opportunity.

You let the resource dictate what can and can't be done not the consumer.

 

[Brian Renville]

Walleye used to be a pretty popular seller at a certain restaurant I know something about. The commercial supply came from Canada and over the last year has become very unreliable. Less fish and smaller ones at that. What amazed me at first was how the fish were cleaned. Someone runs their knife over (not through) the rib cage and still has quite a bit of belly meat. I thought to myself these must be pretty damn big to clean like that while going at a commercial cleaning pace. Went to a food show and I got to see just how big. 13#+ fish are/were a dime a dozen to the guys up there with nets. Anyway, I told the salesman if they are having that much of a problem I don't want to be a part of it. No walleye on the menu any more. When they say it's not sustainable I believe it, the market has shown it for sure. Between sconis and all the fish frys feeding hundreds every Friday that just happen to be serving walleye the problem may be closer to us than we think.

 

[DerHornen]

Seriously, Manitoba can't even fund their fisheries department enough to buy gas for their boats? Hey, your job is to go out and collect information so we have data to manage the resource. We'll pay you for your trouble, but we're not going to let you spend money on extravagant things like performing your duties.

 

[gst]

You let the resource dictate what can and can't be done not the consumer.

So then you are saying even if 10%of consumers want "eco' fish if the lakes can not be certified you don;t bother trying to change what is keeping them from being certified?

My point here is I am guessing the Manitoba Wildlife Federation may be a mirror image of the National Wildlife Federation and have an ecological agenda that if truthful is stronger than their concern for the consumers wishes.

They maybe using this supposed "demand" for "eco fish to push an agenda.

The fella I was talking with shared that concern along with his thought of a few practices that would impact the success of the fishery better than an arbitrary determination.

He too thought as the fella in the video did that if managed correctly this fishery could still handle anglers and commercial guys.

Remember, for all the years leading up to these last few of great fishing, all the practices that the guy in the video says are supposedly ruining the lake were in place.

- - - Updated - - -

Seriously, Manitoba can't even fund their fisheries department enough to buy gas for their boats? Hey, your job is to go out and collect information so we have data to manage the resource. We'll pay you for your trouble, but we're not going to let you spend money on extravagant things like performing your duties.

A couple years ago they were running ad on the radios for farmers with equipment to help the munincipalities (counties) maintain the roads because they did not have funds.

Feel the Bern.

 

[SerchforPerch]

'Cause 'Sconi's are still capable of driving there.

BAzinga!!


Is Winnipeg on the same glide path towards Mille Lacs?? Next thing you know, it'll be 100% catch and release, No live Targets or Dirty Mikes, No live bait and Night fishing bans during open water type of fishery.....

 

[SeisMec]

Liberals in one form or another have been the controlling political party in Canada since 1983. All governments controlled by Liberals that long are broke because of all the social handouts. I just had the joy of paying Canadian tax which I'll never see any benefits from.

 

[MuskyManiac]

I'm going to catch the world record there in 2021.

 

[KDM]

Commercial fishing has been the primary cause of fisheries collapses since the dawn of fishing. Red Snapper/Grouper seasons were closed due to the pressure the commercial guys were putting on the fishery. Alaska salmon seasons are intensely scrutinized because the commercial guys can wipe out an entire generation of salmon is a few days. The Bluefin Tuna fishery is seriously watched as the commercial guys could push that species to extinction in a few short years. Now it's the walleyes that are being pushed into a corner. UNTIL and I mean UNTIL commercial fishing is controlled, the fish, regardless of species, is going to take it in the shorts. The evidence is all over the world. There is a reason Japan doesn't have any fish and they have to buy everyone elses. Until the groups of people commercial fishing the walleyes are shut down or severely curtailed AND POLICED, the walleye populations will continue to decline.

 

[Duckslayer100]

My point here is I am guessing the Manitoba Wildlife Federation may be a mirror image of the National Wildlife Federation and have an ecological agenda that if truthful is stronger than their concern for the consumers wishes.

Not even remotely close. They MWF are a huge hunting and angling organization that promotes youth hunting, trapping, conservation, etc. I know Rob Olson well. He's the definition of hunter, fisher and carnivore.