Every year people gather to watch fish jump the Bowmanville Fish Ladder during spawning season. Known as the salmon run, August to October is when salmon and trout migrate upstream to lay eggs, peaking mid-September.
Though many regulations restrict sport fishing, the lack of enforcement encourages illegal activity that is destroying our creeks.
Locals might remember September last year when fishers at Bowmanville Creek were caught scooping fish out of the water with a net on a video posted to social media.
Despite local tourism brought to the community, there’s a catch. The short period of time for anglers to catch fish in the peak makes fishing spots all over Durham Region overcrowded with locals and tourists. More fishermen means more illegal fishing.
Lat year’s incident was not isolated. In September 2023, four fishermen had their licenses suspended for a year after spear-fishing in the same area. Three of the anglers were fined $2,000, and the other fined $3,250.
In Ontario, you need a valid fishing license and must adhere to the regulations put in place to protect the water. Regulations are detailed in the Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 17 (SF-2025/17).
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources also controls size and number of fish allowed in possession, as well as the in-season to catch and keep species.
Crimes are not always caught or reported. This environment is unfair to the anglers that participate in lawful fishing practices. Without proper intervention, illegal fishing will only get worse.
Regulations made by the ministry are to prevent overfishing and allow for a fair distribution of resources for anglers around the country. Durham Region is located in Zone 17, the smallest zone, of Ontario’s Fisheries and Management Zones. Yet it sees the most high-volume of recreational fishing.
Protecting aquatic life should be prioritized over sport.
Thorough on-site enforcement is urgently needed. Every body of water in Zone 17 needs to be protected, especially during peak season. As Durham Region grows, so will the number of anglers.
Loss of fish and wildlife habitat is highlighted as an area of concern under the province’s fish management history. Without prioritizing, improving and sustaining fish populations, recreational fishing will disappear.
To ensure safe practice, law enforcement needs to intensify monitoring of popular fishing spots during season peaks. Overfishing will have severe consequences for the already endangered populations.
If the government doesn’t crack down on policing these waters, cases of illegal fishing will increase and local fish and wildlife will decrease.
Stronger enforcement in fishing zones must be a priority, especially in the peak of the season.
The ministry must send out conservation officers to enforce the laws and conduct regulate audits. Anglers need to report resource abuse to the tip violation reporting line at 1-877-847-7667.