Seeing that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) will have nets set in the Mattagami River from September 28 through to October 9 in Timmins as part of the ongoing Mattagami Sturgeon Restoration Project, I thought I would do a two part article on the project.
In part one, I will share a little background on who was part of the project, when the project started, and why it was started.
I reached out to MNRF Heather Pridham to address and clarify the laws on catching a Sturgeon.
In 2002, the Timmins Fur Council and Club Navigateur partnered with MNR, OPG and Domtar to transfer 50 adult Sturgeon from Little Long north of Fraserdale into the Mattagami River.
Of the 50 fish transferred at that time, 13 had been fitted with radio transmitters.
The 13 adult’s movements were tracked for one year beginning in August 2002.
The MNRF learned that six adults with transmitters went over the dam at Sandy Falls, therefore half of the populations may have gone over the dam.
The Sturgeon were reintroduced into the river because they are a species at risk, and the recovery goals for a species at risk state that the species should be reintroduced into areas of original occurrence where they have been extirpated.
Sturgeon are found in the Mattagami River from its mouth at the Moose River upstream 340 kilometre to Wawaitin Falls.
But locally, the fish disappeared from a section of the river over the past few decades due to factors such as loss of habitat, pollution, log drives and overfishing.
Sturgeon are native to this area and, historically, have been found in most rivers in the North while ancestral species of Sturgeon have been around since the time of dinosaurs.
Since the restoration project was implemented in 2002, there have been signs of success.
Anglers have been catching these five- and six-year-old sturgeon, so the MNRF know that there's probably been reproduction since 2002.
Since re-introducing the species, it seems like they're adapting.
To help answer some my questions on angling for Sturgeon I reached out to MNRF Heather Pridham to help clarify the laws for any angler that happens to catch a Sturgeon.
Q1: Can you please find out about catching a Sturgeon as it says there is a season however NO Possession limit on them? I am referring to the Mattagami River.
A: Within most of Fisheries Management Zone 8, there is a fishing season for lake sturgeon from January 1 to April 30 and then from July 1 to December 31. Within the area where lake sturgeon fishing is allowed, there is no possession limit for either a sport or conservation license. Therefore, it is catch and release fishing, for lake sturgeon, within most of Fisheries Management Zone 8.
There is a specific area, within Fisheries Management Zone 8, where there is no season for lake sturgeon at all. This is in the southeast corner of the FMZ running along the Quebec / Ontario border. Please refer to the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary to view a map of FMZ 8 where is shows the closed area for lake sturgeon.
In addition, there are 3 different areas of the Mattagami River that have fish sanctuaries in place from April 1 to June 15, where no fishing can occur. Please refer to the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary to read about these.
It is up to the angler to be informed and aware of different restrictions that maybe in place. For more information on fishing regulations, please consult the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/fishing.
Q2: If an angler catches a lake sturgeon on the Mattagami River, can they take a picture of it before they release it? Yes or no?
A: By the letter of the law, the fish must be released immediately. A person can take pictures if the picture taking does not delay the release of the fish.
The regulation is in place to ensure fish being released have the best chance possible of survival. Many picture taking “techniques” cause extreme stress on fish, reducing their chance of surviving such as placing fingers or hands in the mouth or gills.
Q3: Where did you find the information to answer Q2, because the 2015 Fishing Ontario Regulation Summary is NOT clear on this.
A: This comes from Section 12, in the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007 (SOR/2007-237), under the Fisheries Act. Here is the link.
In question two, I can't over emphasizes how important it is to have your camera ready for a picture to ensure a quick release.
To avoid any chance of being charged by a Conservation Officer when fishing from shore, have your camera on hand.
If you have to run to vehicle for your camera, you are putting yourself at risk of being charged as you are now in possession of the fish and not releasing it as quickly as possible for a better chance of survival.
I found that grabbing the Sturgeon by the tail when landing it calms it down to a state where it doesn't thrash around.
Then I place the other hand under the stomach rather that placing my hand through the gill plate.
Placing your hand under the stomach allows you to do two things: first, it allows you to keep the Sturgeon in the water before lifting it out for your picture; and second, holding the Sturgeon under it's stomach will allow you to support its weight and not to stress it out.
I have been wearing gloves over the years when handling Sturgeon.
Smaller Sturgeon have a boney spine and down both sides of their body from their head to their tail.
These bones on smaller Sturgeon are like razor blades and can cut an anglers hands when they grab them.
Wearing gloves helps prevent an angler from being cut.
Gloves also prevent the angler from removing the protective slime from the Sturgeon that helps prevents the fish from fungi and other diseases.
Be sure to catch the second part of the article were Maggie Boothroyd answers some questions on her role in the Sturgeon Project since joining it in September of 2014 and about the Sturgeon Project itself.
Whether you're an angler or hunter; a camp, lodge, resort owner; or just holding an outdoor event and would like some exposure, please feel free to email us at [email protected].
