PERCH STOCK NEEDS GOVERNMENT
PROTECTION
BROCKVILLE _ Bob Runciman,
MPP for Leeds-Grenville, has asked David Ramsay,
the new Minister of Natural Resources, to act
on a petition he presented to government last
fall to protect perch stock in the Prescott
region.
“This is a very serious problem and I
have asked Minister Ramsay to review the petition
I submitted and to take action,” said
Runciman.
Last September Runciman introduced a petition
in the house demanding government action on
over-fishing of perch. No action was taken because
an election was called.
In a letter to Minister Ramsay, Runciman noted
that perch stocks in the Cornwall-Lancaster
area of the St. Lawrence River have dropped
dramatically and as a result, Cornwall area
fishermen are traveling to the Prescott, Johnstown
bay area to catch perch for retail purposes.
Local fisherman have reported seeing Cornwall
fishermen take perch out of the bay, filling
buckets, barrels and coolers.
“They are showing no restraint; they
are removing everything they catch,” says
Runciman.
The petition organized by area fishermen proposes
two possible solutions to the problem: either
a 50 perch per day limit or a six-week closure
of the season from April 1 to May 10. It is
also proposed that fish caught by children apply
to their parents’ licence limit.
Runciman has urged Minister Ramsay to review
the situation as soon as possible and for his
ministry to take action before the perch stock
in this area is decimated.
Media Contact:
Don Swayne
Constituency Executive Assistant
(613-342-9522)
