New Lake Erie regs?

[Homer]

Interesting article in today's DetroitFree Press regarding potential new walleye regs for Lake Erie. Among the highlights:
94% reduction in Ontario commercial take for the next 3 yrs
Reduction in sportfishing limits to 6 (4 in Mar/Apr in OH/ONT)
End of self-policing of Ontario commercial fishermen

The article says these changes *may* occur this year. Does anyone know more on the likelihood of these changes passing?

The article is at:

http://www.freep.com/sports/outdoors/outcol1_20010201.htm

[ETT]

It's a done deal in Ohio. Just as you stated. Limit reduction to 6 except for March and April which is 4 per angler. Let's hope it's the right medicine.

[bob oh]

And let's hope it helps force a change in commercial fishing regs!
Bob

[ezmarc]

Thanks Homer, Very interesting article and good news. Thanks for the post.

Have boat will travel

[Homer]

Here's a response on that article taken from another message board. That 94% reduction sounded too good to be true:

I was at the GLSFC meeting and spoke to Tom & Eric. (Hi, Tom). I believe Eric did not report the whole story on Ontario commercial walleye limits. My understanding was that Ontario is reducing the Erie Walleye harvest by 94% ONLY IN THE JAN-APRIL time frame and ONLY in the western basin. This is to protect the spring spawners. They did not have the permitted netting numbers for the summer yet. My guess is they will be down only about 20-30%, which when combined with the spring reduction will yield an average annual reduction of about 33%. That is a far cry from a three year 94% reduction.

[Homer]

Just bringing this topic back up front.