LOC EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2002

LAKE ONTARIO COMMITTEE

Adam’s Mark Hotel
Buffalo, NY
26, 27 March 2002

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Lake Ontario Committee members:
Vice Chair Bob Lange (NYDEC) and Tom Stewart for Sandra Orsatti (OMNR)

1. Status of assessment programs in 2002
NYDEC has not yet obtained permission to replace its boat operator and a biologist, nor to hire temporary replacements or seasonal employees: at risk are cormorant studies, angler survey, and offshore assessment, including that in support of the FWS / Ed Mills (Cornell U.) biomonitoring program. The OMNR strike has delayed some of its assessment programs. The FWS will need to reduce its support for nearshore section of the biomonitoring program, but will try to continue with sturgeon studies in the lower Niagara. The USGS hopes to continue its 2002 program using soft money.

2. State of the lake conference
The Lake Ontario Committee and its technical subcommittee will meet in May to plan the 2003 state of the lake conference. The Lake Ontario LaMP will be invited to participate or to co-sponsor the conference.

3. Bloater rehabilitation
The Lake Ontario Committee will write the Great Lakes Fish Health Committee for advice on disease issues for hatcheries and Lake Ontario in introducing bloater chub. Stocks from Lakes Michigan and Nipigon are being considered since the disease-free Lake Superior stock seems to be all-female.

4. St. Lawrence River Fish Community Objectives
Upon resolution of the OMNR strike, the St. Lawrence River Fish Community Objectives will be distributed for public review.

5. Klondike strain of lake trout
The Lake Ontario Committee will write the USFWS re the Lake Ontario Committee decision to not stock the Klondike strain of lake trout at this time in order to not jeopardize natural reproduction that seems to be underway.

6. CWT use in Allegheny NFH
The Lake Ontario Committee will write the USFWS supporting use of coded wire tags in lake trout reared in Allegheny NFH.

7. American eel position statement

Great Lakes Fisheries Commission - Lake Ontario Committee
POSITION STATEMENT ON AMERICAN EEL:

American eel are a valuable component of the upper St. Lawrence River / Lake Ontario ecosystem which has contributed to the biological diversity of the system and provided an important commercial fishery in Ontario until the late 1990s.
The American eel population is in serious decline and recruitment to the upper St. Lawrence River / Lake Ontario has now virtually ceased.
Without management intervention, extirpation of the American eel in the Great Lakes Basin is likely.
Management actions within the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario should be taken to reduce eel mortality (at all life stages), and encourage safe, effective upstream and downstream migration.

To prevent extirpation of the American eel from the Great Lakes Basin, and possibly address management issues elsewhere in the eel’s range, the actions above should be implemented in conjunction with a management plan to sustain this species throughout its range, coordinated by Canadian and U.S.A. federal agencies.

8. Environmental objectives
Upon completion of the St. Lawrence River fish community objectives, the Lake Ontario Committee will consider how to attempt environmental objectives. DFO is interested in working on habitat and with the Lake Ontario Technical Committee. The Lake Ontario Committee will pursue environmental objectives in consultation with the LaMP.

9. Vessel safety
The CLC will discuss how to secure comprehensive inspection for fish research and management vessels, perhaps on CORA’s model where under MOA with the U.S. Coast Guard, law enforcement does inspections.