ALBANY, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced three upcoming public meetings during the month of March to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries. The annual “State of Lake Ontario” public meetings will be held in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties.

“DEC is committed to sound management of Lake Ontario fisheries to maintain high-quality angling opportunities and associated economic benefits,” Chief of DEC’s Bureau of Fisheries Phil Hulbert said. “The State of Lake Ontario meetings provide an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the lake to interact with the scientists who study its fisheries.”

Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish. New York’s waters of Lake Ontario comprise over 2.7 million acres, and a 2007 statewide angler survey estimated over 2.6 million angler days expended on Lake Ontario and major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million to the local New York economy.

The meeting dates are as follows:

Wednesday, March 2, 2011: 7 – 10 p.m.at the Oswego County BOCES, 179 County Route 64, Mexico, 13114 (Oswego County). The meeting is co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association.

Thursday, March 3, 2011: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, 14094 (Niagara County). The meeting is co-hosted by Niagara County Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Sportfishery Development Board.

Monday, March 14, 2011: 7 – 10 p.m. at the Imaging Sciences Auditorium, in Chester F.Carlson Building (76) on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus, Rochester, 14623 (Monroe County). The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.

DEC, United States Geological Survey, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources biologists will make a number of presentations, including updates on the status of trout and salmon fisheries, forage fish, lake trout, warmwater fish, and sea lamprey control. There will also be an update on the status of Lake Ontario Sportfishing Restoration Program projects. There will be ample time at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to interact with the presenters.

via DEC Announces “State Of Lake Ontario” Meetings.