Anglers who travel to eastern Ontario to fish in Fisheries Management Zone 18 should be aware of a public consultation period proposing changes to yellow perch and sunfish regulations by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

FMZ 18 is the most easterly inland management zone in the province, consisting of the eastern portion of Peterborough District, the southern portion of Bancroft District and all of Kemptville District. The Rideau system and its connecting lakes and rivers are the most dominant aquatic features in the zone. The eastern and western areas of FMZ 18 are St. Lawrence Lowland, while the central section is predominantly Canadian Shield and the many lakes and streams associated with this landform. FMZ 18 does not include Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River or the Ottawa River. According to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, it is a popular area for Michigan anglers to visit.

OMNR, in conjunction with a local stakeholder advisory council, is proposing a limit of 50 yellow perch daily or in possession for anglers with a sport fishing license, 25 daily or in possession for a conservation license. Currently there is no limit on perch.

For sunfish, which also currently have no limits in FMZ 18, OMNR has proposed either:

• a daily and possession limit of 50 (25 for a conservation license), or
• a limit that restricts anglers from keeping any sunfish measuring more than 8 inches, with a daily limit of 50 and a possession limit of 200 (25 daily, 100 possession for a conservation license).

Any changes to the current regulations would not take effect until 2010 at the earliest. Anglers who wish to comment on the proposals should visit the Web site www.ontario.ca/ebr and enter the registry number 010-6236, and then follow the links to the pertinent proposals.