Northern Pike management strategy

Population trends and status of the fishery

Northern pike populations across the zone were surveyed between 1996 and 2009, using the FWIN survey methodology. There were a total of 40 FWIN surveys conducted on 34 lakes, in FMZ 18. In addition, BsM, an assessment protocol that monitors the fish community including northern pike, was conducted on 40 lakes in FMZ 18 from 2008 – 2010.

Northern pike abundance is impacted by harvest and quality of habitat and is estimated by the average number of northern pike per net (catch rate). The catch rate of northern pike does not vary greatly across FMZ 18. The mean catch rate from the FWIN surveys was 1.4 northern pike/net in FMZ 18. northern pike accounted for almost 7% of fish caught by anglers in FMZ 18 (Hogg et al., 2010).

The mean catch rate from the BsM surveys was 0.8 northern pike/net. A greater number of age classes and high maximum age are indicative of successful recruitment and adult survival. The assessment data show that few northern pike are reaching the maximum ages of 10-12 years (Scott & Crossman, 1998) suggesting low survival and, moderate number of age classes once 50% sexual maturity is attained at 2 years of age, in FMZ 18. 1% (FWIN Data) and <1% (BsM Data) of the northern pike were 10 years or older.

In summary, northern pike populations in FMZ 18 lakes are considered to be at relatively low to moderate abundance and are showing signs of high mortality. Most populations have high proportions of fish at or near maturity, but lack large, older fish. northern pike are native to the area but not to the entire zone. Where they are currently absent, an emphasis should be placed on preventing northern pike from becoming established, due to their predatory nature, which can significantly impact existing fisheries. The management focus for this species is to try and increase the population abundance, and the abundance of larger size fish, beyond current levels.

Northern pike management in FMZ 18

The introduction of northern pike into new waterbodies over the years has expanded its population distribution within the zone, increasing angling opportunities, but also creating more challenges for managing other traditional sport fish species.

MNRF and the Advisory Council identified a number of challenges to managing northern pike populations in FMZ 18. The decline in northern pike abundance (particularly the decline of larger size fish) in FMZ 18 has been recognized as a concern and a priority in the fisheries management plan.

Management challenges:

• low abundance of large-sized adults
• increased fishing effort for northern pike
• harvest demand is exceeding the current supply of northern pike
• post-release mortality, particularly from incidentally caught, large-sized northern pike
• loss of critical spawning habitat and/or connectivity to this habitat
• water level and flow fluctuations in the spring causing recruitment failure
• climate change causing increases in thermal regime; as well as dryer springs affecting the amount of available spawning habitats in some years
• introductions of northern pike into new waterbodies

The MNRF with the advice of the Advisory Council developed objectives and strategies to address the challenges and help reach the following northern pike management goal.

Goal:

To maintain, and where possible, increase a northern pike fishery supported by naturally reproducing populations.

Objective 1:

Maintain or increase northern pike abundance and the sustainability of existing populations.

MNRF and the Advisory Council agreed that northern pike populations in FMZ 18 have declined in recent years, with a more pronounced decline of the larger fish within the various northern pike populations. Based on results from the FWIN surveys conducted on numerous northern pike lakes in FMZ 18 from 1996 to 2009, northern pike population abundance is relatively low. These surveys also indicated that there was a relatively narrow range of ages and sizes. A healthy population consists of a wide range of ages and sizes. Harvest is one of the main threats to northern pike populations since this is a desirable species for anglers to harvest, on a number of waterbodies (anecdotal information, FMZ 18 Advisory Council). The most effective management tool to overcome these challenges is to implement more effective harvest regulation.

Encouraging voluntary release and discouraging harvest of long-lived, large-bodied northern pike as a strategy, requires an increased emphasis on post-release survival of angler-caught fish. A number of factors including hooking location, water temperatures, handling time and handling procedures can contribute to the mortality of fish. MNRF and Muskies Canada have developed a number of best practices to ensure the survival of angled muskellunge, which are also applicable to large northern pike. Communication of these best management practices to anglers will help increase post- release survival of northern pike in FMZ 18.

Strategies to address the objective include:

• monitor populations (BsM, creel surveys) to determine the potential need for a regulation change
• develop public/partner opportunities to measure fishing pressure and harvest rates via public reporting (g. volunteer angler diary program)
• review current northern pike population data and management approach and determine if any changes are appropriate
• promote and support additional science to better manage sustainable northern pike populations

Objective 2:

Increase natural northern pike recruitment in existing populations.

Northern pike concentrate at specific sites to spawn each spring in shallow bays or littoral zones of lakes, rivers, streams and wetland areas. It is important to identify, enhance, protect and provide access to these sites to ensure sustainable northern pike populations. northern pike spawning habitat can be impacted by fluctuating water levels. It is important to maintain consistent water levels during the spawning/hatching period of northern pike. If the water levels are lowered during this time period, eggs (and/or larval fish that stick to vegetation) may be killed if they are exposed to air. There are numerous dams and hydropower facilities in FMZ 18 that control flows and levels that could impact northern pike spawning success.

Strategies to address the objective include:

• identify spawning areas where current water management regiments create recruitment issues and use water management planning process to potentially address these areas of conflict
• work with stakeholders to identify spawning/nursery areas
• engage stakeholders to increase awareness, promote and undertake rehabilitation to enable natural shorelines
• share fishery management objectives, the need to maintain wetlands and connectivity to wetlands, spawning locations and other habitat information (e.g. LIO) with partner agencies to enable the protection of these important areas through land use planning and application of their regulatory mandates (e.g. DFO and Fisheries Act)
• seek opportunities to restore connections among habitats (e.g. to wetlands)

Objective 3:

Prevent the spread of northern pike into new waterbodies.

Northern pike are native to a number of waterbodies within FMZ 18, but have become relatively well established throughout a significant portion of the zone. These populations are now considered naturalized and their establishment does provide angling and harvest opportunities. However, the introduction of these species to new waterbodies should be prevented as they pose detrimental risks to existing native fisheries.

Strategies to address the objective include:

• see Invasive Species and Diseases Management Strategy Section

The goal, objectives and strategies have been summarized in Table 6.

Table 6: northern pike management summary

Adapted from tabular format.

Northern pike management goal

To maintain, and where possible, increase a northern pike fishery supported by naturally reproducing populations.

Objective 1:

Maintain or increase northern pike abundance and the sustainability of existing populations.

Strategies

• Monitor populations (BsM, creel surveys) to determine the potential need for a regulation change.
• Develop public/partner opportunities to measure fishing pressure and harvest rates via public reporting (e.g. volunteer angler diary program).
• Review current northern pike population data and management approach and determine if any changes are appropriate.
• Promote and support additional science to better manage sustainable northern pike populations.

Progress reviewed by

BsM Cycle 3

Objective 2:

Increase natural northern pike recruitment in existing populations.

Strategies

• Identify spawning areas where current water management regiments create recruitment issues and use water management planning process to potentially address these areas of conflict.
• Work with stakeholders to identify spawning/nursery areas.
• Engage stakeholders to increase awareness, promote and undertake rehabilitation to enable natural shorelines.
• Share fishery management objectives, the need to maintain wetlands and connectivity to wetlands, spawning locations and other habitat information (e.g. LIO) with partner agencies to enable the protection of these important areas through land use planning and application of their regulatory mandates (e.g. DFO and Fisheries Act).
• Seek opportunities to restore connections among habitats (e.g. to wetlands).

Progress reviewed by

BsM Cycle 3

Objective 3:

Prevent the spread of northern pike into new waterbodies.

Strategies

• See Invasive Species and Diseases Management Strategy Section.

Progress reviewed by

BsM Cycle 4

Northern pike monitoring and assessment

The provincial BsM program is the primary survey method used to collect fisheries data in Ontario, including northern pike. The BsM program provides information about fish abundance, population structure, growth, maturity and fishing effort. The BsM program will be able to report on the trends and status of fisheries at FMZ scale. The fish community will also be assessed to determine changes in species composition over time.

Strategies:

• adopt the BsM program as the primary index netting (and effort census) survey to assess northern pike population status across FMZ 18
• monitor northern pike populations using standard netting protocols (e.g. BsM, FWIN, RIN) to address specific management concerns that arise on lakes and rivers not sampled as part of the BsM program
• develop public/partner opportunities to measure fishing pressure and harvest rates via public reporting (e.g. volunteer angler diary program)

Current northern pike regulations

The northern pike season opens on the 2^nd Saturday in May and closes on March 31^st. A catch and possession limit of six (6) northern pike for sport licence holders and two (2) for conservation licence holders is in place across the entire zone.