Bring a Fish (editorial)

[Lee Borgersen]

                           Bring a Fish (editorial)

12/16/12   by: Bill Walton

We have all heard to old adage about giving a man a fish and you feed him for a day – teach a man how to fish and you feed him forever. Whoever made this up needs to rethink and hit the reset button as we are running out of fishes. Whether it is because we taught too many people how to fish or if there are simply too many people is debatable, but it is now time for new ideas.

With the sudden realization that Lake Nipissing walleye (I still call them pickerel) are fast approaching the endangered species list we need affirmative action to save the sport fishery. Okay, maybe we need to reassess that too. Do we need the sport fishery and all the tourism dollars that it brings to the area? Do local residents really need to cast a line in summer and drill holes in the ice in winter? Is it part of the reason why we chose (or choose) to live in this area? Is it part of our heritage and culture?

We have been eating fishes, fowl and animals ever since we crawled out of the primordial muck. The finny ones became even more popular when we discovered how tasty a plate of fresh fish went with potato fries and ketchup. Those who eschew eating critters with four legs have put ever more pressure on the fishery, and add to that an increase in the numbers of some birds that live on fish, and you can see why we might be running out of some of the tasty variety of fish. The big fishes have been more susceptible to over-fishing and the wales and sharks have made headlines as we try to rein in our consumption of the disappearing creatures.

In an effort to save the walleye fishery in Lake Nipissing, I am supporting the idea of one wag who is calling on everyone who fishes in Lake Nipissing to adopt a ‘Bring a Pickerel to the Lake Program’ when you go fishing. Bringing any pickerel will be appreciated but a Slot Size swimmer is preferred. Joining the BPLP will entitle the participant to gather all the cormorant eggs they want and even allow a harvest of adult birds for cormorant stew (which tastes much like Merganser soup for those who have tried that less than palatable dish).

Said wag claims he will approach our redoubtable MPP to see if the Ministry will give a discount on fishing licences for anyone joining the BPLP. The way things are going with the Ministry, they are more likely to call the Lake a park and close it. Your support for the BPLP by emailing the officials and bureaucrats will be much appreciated.