Proposed Changes to the Bass Regs.

[Charles_Sim]

Hello all,

Long time no chat, I’m just getting settled back into life after a crazy summer of events, and travel. I came across this request for comments on proposed changes to the Bass regulations. All stakeholders… which means you… should take the time to read the documents, and make your comments known to the powers that be.

This information comes from Will Wegman the Ontario BASS Federation conservation Director via the bigfatbass website. The key points are the proposal: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/028400ep.htm and the toolkit: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/Ebr/bass/toolkit.pdf

The toolkit contains details on the proposed changes.

Bass Toolkit and EBR Posting - For Possible new bass regs in Ontario



The following letter I wrote went out to the Ontario BASS Federation Nation club presidents a few weeks ago, but I thought I'll send it to all big fat bass readers as well. Below, after my letter is one from MNR's Steve Kerr - the person you can make comments to directly about the EBR Posting and bass toolkit. He also gives you directions on how to access the EBR posting and the toolkit.

From the Conservation Directors point of view … I would just like to ask all Bassmasters to read thru this EBR posting carefully and to understand that from my own standpoint that I would encourage the continuation of option one – a catch and possession limit of 6 bass with a sport licence and 2 with a Conservation Licence. Any option that would put forward lower limits may sound as a great conservation practice – if it meant only lower harvest limits for all anglers. However, this limit does not distinguish between the angler who keeps six dead bass in his cooler to eat and the tournament angler who detains live bass in his/her live well that will be live released at the end of the weigh in.

For the most part in Ontario our bass fisheries are doing quite well and catch and release is a guiding principle for those who bass fish – so it is my view that from a biological standpoint we really do not need a lower limit throughout most of the province. There may likely be exceptions … however with this broad landscape approach that will become reality in 2007 we all need to think of the bigger picture. I also prefer the option for us down here in southern and central Ontario of a season that lasts from the 4th Saturday in June until Nov. 30th. Any possible exceptions to this … perhaps border waters etc, would be looked at individually case by case and not with this landscape approach. (This new 4th Saturday in June season ... could mean that some years we could fish for bass a week earlier then usual ... and 2007 could be the first year if this goes thru.

Thank you … and I strongly encourage all bassmasters to take a few minutes to read the EBR posting and toolkit (found through accessing the link below) This is a fairly easy process and complete instructions on how to access are found thru this first link.

Wil Wegman

OBFN Conservation Director
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Subject: Notification of Bass Regulatory Proposals on Environmental Bill of Rights registry

I am e-mailing you to let you know that regulatory proposals for bass have recently been posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights registry for public review and input. The posting will last for a 60 day period extending from August 25-Ocotber 24, 2006.

The EBR registry posting is PB06E6025.

This proposal can be viewed by public access to the EBR registry at http://www.ene.gov.on.ca (click on "Environmental Registry", click on "Search Notices", and enter the registry number on the search page.

I hope you will take the time to review this proposal and provide us with some feedback. Please feel free to forward this notice to anyone else who might be interested.

Steven J. Kerr

Senior Fisheries Biologist

Fisheries Section, Fish and Wildlife Branch

300 Water Street, Peterborough

Ontario. K9J 8M5

E-mail: steve.kerr@mnr.gov.on.ca

[dana]

thanks Chuck,
Just sent an email off.
dana