Conservation coalition voices concerns over border water issue

In an effort to help both the federal and provincial governments in the border water dispute with Minnesota, a “Conservation Coalition for Ontario’s Resources” has been formed here.
“We want the government to know we’ll stand behind them,” said committee member Neil Wiens of Thunder Bay, chair Zone ‘B’ of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
“We have some concerns regarding what Minnesota wants and their use of discreet stocks which belong to the people of Ontario,” he said.
“Conservation is number one,” he stressed.
Randy Hanson, who also sits on the committee, said the coalition simply is responding to the actions Minnesota has taken.
“We just feel that the Minnesota challenge should not go unchallenged and that a lot of people don’t know the issues,” he noted. “We certainly have some concerns.”
The coalition includes members from the OFAH, Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters, the Kenora District Camp Owners Association, Northwestern Ontario Tourism Association, and other local residents and businesses.
The coalition argues the Minnesota government has failed to implement the proposals set aside by both Minnesota and Ontario members as part of the International Citizens’ Task Force in 1993.
The task force–comprised of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, resort owners, and citizens–agreed Minnesota would voluntarily reduce its harvest on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods.
But, in fact, creel data from 1994-96 showed a growth in harvest from 14,000 to 25,000 pounds annually.
That prompted Ontario to pass a law which restricts non-resident anglers from retaining any walleye or sauger caught on the Ontario side of Rainy River and Lake of the Woods unless they spend at least one night at a Canadian resort.
Wiens said both fisheries have shown “signs of improvement” since the restrictions. What the province simply did, he noted, was limit the take of what had been a depleted resource in recent years.
No surprisingly, Minnesota vehemently has opposed the restriction and has taken the issue to be decided by the two federal governments. But Wiens argued Ontario has the right and the “responsibility” to protect its own resources.
The coalition also stressed Ontario never objected to Minnesota’s management of its resources, and questions why it would object to Ontario’s management of its own resources.
A meeting between the federal trade department, MNR, and the Americans took place June 22 in Ottawa. There’s been no word on the outcome of that meeting but it is expected shortly.
Meanwhile, the Clinton administration is completing an investigation of complaints from U.S. lodge owners who argue the province’s walleye restriction violates the North American Free Trade agreement and has put a portion of the U.S. tourism industry in jeopardy.