The province is working with the Nipissing First Nation to renew joint efforts to save the Walleye population in the Northeast.
A new Memorandum of Understanding came into effect on March 11 and ends March 10, 2022.
The agreement will support the recovery of the walleye population, and aims to establish strong relationships between Ontario and the Nipissing First Nation that respect the First Nation’s treaty rights to commercially fish on Lake Nipissing, improve the sharing of fisheries data, support the Nipissing First Nation’s Fisheries Law, and help manage its commercial fishery and support education.
“Our government is committed to work together with Indigenous partners to create and support jobs and economic opportunities in Northern Ontario,” said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. “We have signed a new three-year agreement that will support Nipissing First Nation’s commercial fishery, helping to promote sustainable economic growth and resource management.”
He say walleye populations are improving, but there is still work to do.
“Our goal is to work cooperatively to support a healthy, sustainable fishery that our nation can continue to enjoy and rely on for generations to come,” said Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod. “This will be achieved through the full implementation of Nipissing First Nation’s Fisheries Law.”
The ministry and Nipissing First Nation were awarded the 2018 Gold Deloitte Public Sector Leadership Award for cooperative efforts related to managing the Lake Nipissing fisheries.
