The squeaky wheel will get the grease, and the only way that's going to happen is by directly confronting the issue with the MNR's Fishery Policy Section. Turn it into a major social media event, and MAYBE, they'll do the right thing for once and allow the resource to be the priority in this matter. Both the Minister, and David Brown was the guy to address your letters to back in 2012. Don't waste your time contacting the Chamber Of Commerce, as they've already made it evident that they plan to trash the resource for the three day annual economic gain. Much of the impact from this event is hidden from the public. There's lots of PR work, raving articles to the local papers about the community volunteer support, yet the average citizen is not aware of all the dead fish. That's because most of the post-tournament mortality occurs 24-72 hrs after the event, when everyone has gone home. If you truly want to get the public's attention, get 6 people lined up with snorkel/scuba gear. GPS the release site for both days. The sites are shallow - less than 20feet. Dive these spots on the two days of the event (within 2 hrs of release), as well as the next three after. Make sure you dig down to substrate level in the weed beds. Freeze everything you find, but take total length measurements on everything you retrieve. Wait until there is a full COKL Council meeting in Lindsay, then go and dump the load on the front lawn at Francis street, when the council is in session. Make sure there's a sign that says "Courtesy of MNR Fisheries Policy Section, The Bobcaygeon Chamber Of Commerce, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats, Rapala, Yamaha Canada". Make sure all the local sponsor names are posted as well. Before you go, make sure you call CHEX News, as well as the Peterborough Examiner, Oshawa Times, local Lindsay papers. Better yet - use the dead fish to spell out "Courtesy Of The Canada-US Walleye Tournament and The Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources And Forest Fisheries Policy Section" on the Water Street sidewalk by the MNR head office building entrance in Peterborough. Call the Fisheries Policy guys and ask them to take a look out the window! I remember this being done up in Red Lake. The ensuing damage control actually resulted in the first sound resource management for the area.
