2023 Commercial Fishing Season will close on October 31st
Nipissing First Nation’s Chief and Council have mandated the closure of the commercial fishery for the 2023 season effective Monday, October 31, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. The closure will remain in effect until the end of the spring 2024 moratorium.
All commercial gill nets must be lifted by 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
This closure does not affect our members’ inherent, treaty-protected rights to harvest fish for subsistence or ceremonial purposes.
Members who plan to fish for subsistence must follow our Fisheries Law and are asked to notify our Fisheries Office by calling (705) 753-6991. Miigwech to the registered commercial fishers and community members who respect the will of the community and follow the Fisheries Law and processes.
For more information, or to report compliance issues, please contact Jeff McLeod, Natural Resources Manager at 705-753-2050 ext. 1325 or [email protected].
Click here to download the 2023 Notice of Seasonal Closure
Nipissing First Nation plays a fundamental role in promoting the health and recovery of the Lake Nipissing fishery. NFN continues to have significant successes in protecting the lake’s walleye population and maintaining safe harvest levels within our commercial fishery, consistent with Aboriginal treaty and harvesting rights.
The commercial fishing season does not affect our members’ inherent and treaty-protected rights to harvest fish for subsistence or ceremonial purposes any time of year. Members who plan to fish for subsistence or ceremony must follow our Fisheries Law and are asked to notify our Fisheries Office in advance by calling 705-753-6991. Anyone selling fish under the pretense of subsistence or ceremonial fishing will be considered to be in violation of NFN’s fishing laws and subject to enforcement measures under our Fisheries Law.
Miigwech to the registered commercial fishers and community members who respect the will of the community and follow the NFN Fisheries Law. Your efforts are helping to ensure that we can all enjoy the resources that Lake Nipissing provides for us now, and for generations to come.
Nipissing First Nation Fisheries Law Regulations
In April 2015, following community consultations that identified concerns of NFN community members about the stressed walleye fishery, Council put new regulations in place under NFN’s Fisheries Law that:
- continued a spring moratorium on gill-netting (in effect since the Fisheries Law was enacted in 2005)
- mandated the opening of the commercial season to coincide with the opening of recreational sports fishery (May long weekend)
- reduced the number of permitted gill-nets from 5 panels to 3
- increased minimum gill-net mesh size from 3.5 inches to 3.75 inches
- continue to seek legal advice to use the Gichi-Naaknigewin to strengthen our fisheries laws and regulations.
We have made positive strides in our fisheries management activities with the financial and technical resources provided through our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). We are seeing early signs of recovery, however the walleye population remains stressed and requires additional time to rebuild their numbers to maintain a healthy, strong fishery. Read the 2021-2022 MOU Update here.
The spring gillnet moratorium and the seasonal closure in the fall are the most important management tools we have to protect the spawning fish and ensure the long-term health and sustainability of Lake Nipissing and our fishery.
Commercial Fishery
One of our main goals is to work towards a sustainable walleye fishery in Lake Nipissing. Each year, NFN fishers (in compliance with NFN’s Fisheries Law and Regulations), provide information and data needed to help monitor and calculate the total walleye harvest for the season.
NFN uses standardized processes to collect and analyze harvest data, which is used by Chief and Council to set regulations and limits every year to ensure sustainable harvest levels for the commercial fishery. This includes determining when it may be necessary to close the commercial fishery early, as was the case in August 2015, 2016 and 2017.
In 2021, NFN had approximately 30 registered commercial fishers and our overall harvest was within target limits to ensure sustainability. As part of NFN’s Fisheries Program, compliant registered commercial fishers are eligible for the Fisheries Employment Insurance Benefit.
NFN’s leadership in the management of the commercial fishery on Lake Nipissing is vital to its long-term health and sustainability. Learn more about our cooperative efforts to manage the Lake Nipissing fisheries here.
- Click here to download the 2020 Safe Fishing Guidelines
- Click here to download the COVID-19 Self-Assessment info sheet
Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN)
FWIN is an Ontario standardized method of research and data collection that is used to assess the health of the walleye population. This project allows for the collection of important fish population information to help manage the whole lake ecosystem, as well as help in the recovery of the walleye population in Lake Nipissing.
Every year, the Natural Resources Department assists the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) in efforts to collect data needed for this annual project. In total there were 48 FWIN nets set in Lake Nipissing for 2019.
FWIN nets are made up of different mesh sizes and completed in the fall when surface water temperatures have cooled to 15ᵒC. All fish caught are removed from the nets, counted and identified. Biological data is recorded from walleye and all other sportfish. Measurements includes: fork length, total length, and round weight. In addition, scales and at least one other structure are collected for ageing and growth rates, the sex and maturity is also determined.
All data is then entered into a software program and analyzed. Data from FWIN has been collected since 1998 on Lake Nipissing. Having twenty-years’ worth of data allows us to compare changes over time.
Shoreline Permits
Shoreline permits continue to be issued to all residents (members and non-members) when working in or around water within Nipissing First Nation. The purpose of permits for shoreline work is to guarantee that no harmful alterations are being made to shorelines that interfere with spawning fish habitat and other wildlife habitat.
Shoreline applications are available at the Natural Resources Department or Lands Department. Call 705-753-2050 for more information or to arrange a site visit.
Safe Boating Guidelines
Members are reminded to adhere to Safe Boating Guidelines at all times. Download the full Safe Boating Guide or click here to view it online.
Contact Information
Jeff McLeod, Eniigaanzid Mtikeng / Ndawenjgeng (Natural Resources Manager)
705-753-2050 ext. 1325
Nikki Commanda, Biologist
705-753-2050 ext. 1251
Tyler Couchie, Bylaw Enforcement Officer
Office: 705-753-2050 ext. 1224 | Cell: 705-498-2506
Clayton Goulais, Bylaw Enforcement Officer
Office: 705-753-2050 ext. 1236 | Cell: 705-498-3823
To contact staff by email, please visit our Contact Us page.