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Role of Sport Fishing Baskatong Reservoir inc.

Creation of the Baskatong Reservoir Community Wildlife Area

The Baskatong reservoir was formed during the construction of the Mercier dam in 1927.

In the 1990s, the continual increase in pressure on sport fishing had reached such a level that it became imperative to find a solution for the preservation of the resource, in order to guarantee quality fishing for current generations and to come up.

It is with this in mind that the Baskatong Reservoir Community Wildlife Area (AFC) was created in 1998, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Wildlife.

Mission of the corporation

In order to administer the AFC of the Baskatong Reservoir, a non-profit corporation was founded under the name of Pêche sportive du Réserve Baskatong inc. The latter's mission is to:

  • Take charge of the management of sport fishing on AFC territory;

  • Contribute to the conservation and protection of the resource in order to finance the restoration of fishing potential;

  • Promote sport fishing activities while respecting equitable accessibility for all users.

Based on the user-pay principle, the corporation devotes a minimum of 75% of its income to the development, restoration and protection of wildlife. This, through stocking activities ( which ended on April 1, 2017), habitat development, surveillance, protection, education, tagging walleye in order to assess their movements, their fidelity to spawning grounds and their size. The rest of the income is spent on administration (the latter may in no case exceed 25%).

In order to respect its mandate to ensure quality fishing and promote respect for wildlife on the part of users, the corporation carries out increased surveillance of the AFC of the Baskatong reservoir. Wildlife protection assistants patrol the entire body of water and are responsible for issuing offense reports when necessary. Failure to respect catch quotas, possession of fish exceeding the permitted limit, as well as failure to respect sanctuaries and spawning grounds are punishable by fines. (See the fishing and regulations tab)

Walleye harvest increases

During the 2008 summer fishing season, the AFC and the Ministry of Wildlife (MFFP) joined forces to reassess the situation of the walleye population, which is sought after by 99% of the fishermen interviewed. AFC staff conducted a field survey to estimate fishing effort and harvest, while MFFP staff produced work protocols, performed biological measurements and interpreted the results. This assessment follows that of 2004 which concluded that the walleye population was very exploited and that vigilance was required.

During the summer of 2008, we estimate a fishing effort of about 45,000 days / fisherman, up slightly compared to 2004. Nearly 80,000 walleye were caught, of which about 52,000 were kept. up from 2004. Sport fishermen caught on average just under 2 walleye per day / fisher. The minimum size at capture saved nearly 30,000 fish that were released. In 2012/2013, 130,000 walleye, of which 35,000 would have been preserved, so 95,000 walleye returned to the water. Sport fishermen caught an average of 3 walleye per day each.

The walleye population is highly exploited

The population density of walleye in the AFC has increased since 2004. However, fish are getting younger and older fish are declining, especially females of reproductive age.


Walleye that were tagged by AFC staff in the spring of 2008 at the Ceizur rapid in the Gatineau River were recaptured throughout AFC territory, confirming the importance of this spawning ground for the entire region. 'AFC and that walleye move inside the 6 lakes that make up the AFC (the pilot project has been renewed for the next 5 years, from 2017 to 2022)

Mortality is high at nearly 50%, which means that each year, half of the fish present at the start of the season will die before the following season. The mortality measured in 2008 is comparable to that of 2004, but it has doubled since 1989. The mortality rate of females appears to be higher than that of males. The tagging of walleye made it possible to estimate the proportion of fish caught by line, it was found that two thirds of mortality is due to sport fishing and that fishing-related mortality is four times higher in 2008 than it was in 1989.

The situation is acceptable, but we must remain vigilant

The stability of mortality since 2004 and the increase in density of young walleye suggest that there is no problem of reproduction within the population and it is hoped that it will continue to support exploitation.

The issue of females of reproductive age is, however, worrying. Their mortality rate is higher than that of males and their number is decreasing in the population. Unable to establish the minimum number of females necessary to maintain the population, regular monitoring of the evolution of the situation remains necessary.

Review

This is our 24th year of operation. The AFC is well established in the territory and well accepted by the public user.

The next general meeting of members (holders of "authorization to fish") 
will take place in June 2024.
 

Documents to download:

Highlights of the 2022 Financial Statements

A) Total fishing authorizations sold              13,716 authorizations

  

B)Total income                                                                 $309,553

  

C)Total costs                                                                     $332,157

  Administration                                                                 $63,179

  Enhancement, monitoring, protection and education      $130,110

  fisheries management                                                    $58,525

  Interpretation Center                                                      $23,105                             .1

  Depreciation of fixed assets                                           $57,238

​

  profit  : $18,547

Board of directors

The board of directors of the management corporation is made up of 11 members duly mandated by the respective circles. General assemblies of members (holders of a fishing license) take place on the 2nd Saturday of April of each year.

Distribution of board seats

Users – fishermen

Vacationers – fishermen

2 members
Delegated by the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen and from its Regional Councils (Laurentides and Outaouais)

1 member
Elected from among the participants in the corporation's annual meeting;

Outfitters

2 members
One member per MRC, appointed and delegated by all the vacationers who are members of one or more associations;

Para – municipal

4 members
Delegated by the Association des Pourvoiries du Baskatong Inc.

2 members
Appointed and delegated by each MRC (Antoine – Labelle and Vallée de la Gatineau)

Board of directors

Ms. Jocelyne Lyrette (MRC)

Mr. Steve Giguère (vacationer)

Mr Eric Naudin (APB)

Mr. Rock Paquette (APB)

Mr. Henri Mery (FEDECP)

Mr. Junior Duguay (APB)

Mr. Daniel Pelletier (APUBS)

Mr. Sebastien Lapointe (APB)

Soon to be elected(e) (MRC)

Soon elected  (FEDECP)

Soon to be elected (APUBS)

President

Vice-president

Treasurer

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

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