Biologists to update status of lake’s fisheries
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has scheduled three upcoming public meetings to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries. The annual “State of Lake Ontario” public meetings will be held in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties during February and March.
Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish. New York’s Lake Ontario waters comprise more than 2.7 million acres. A 2007 statewide angler survey estimated more than 2.6 million angler days were spent on Lake Ontario and major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million to the local New York economy.
The meeting dates are as follows:
•Wednesday, February 22, 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Oswego County BOCES, 179 County Route 64, Mexico (Oswego County). The meeting is co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association.
•Tuesday, February 28, 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Ingel Auditorium, in Building 4 (Student Union) on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus, Rochester (Monroe County). The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.
•Thursday, March 1, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport (Niagara County). The meeting is co-hosted by Niagara County Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Sportfishery Development Board.
DEC, United States Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources biologists will make a number of presentations, including updates on the status of trout and salmon fisheries, forage fish, stocking programs, and fisheries management plans. Time will be provided at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to interact with the presenters. Information summaries for a host of Lake Ontario fisheries assessment programs will be posted at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27068.html prior to the public meetings. Previous annual reports can also be found at this site.
