Dead Salmon In Bronte
While reading the Spoonpullers forum I came across a thread regarding an article in the Oakville Beaver about the province investigating the large number of dead salmon along Bronte Creek.
According to the article:
Last week, the creek, just north of Rebecca bridge, was lined with dead salmon. Salmon naturally die after spawning up the river, but a number of local fishermen say it is too early for this number of dead salmon.
Kowalski said the ministry is currently investigating whether the fish have been killed and slit open to extract their eggs, which is a natural resource violation. She said this practice of catching salmon to extract the roe for the purpose of using it as bait is very common.
Last year was the first time I had made the trek to Petro Park along Bronte Creek. I was excited about the possibility of catching a big fish, taking a picture, and watching it swim away. It wasn’t long before I discovered I was in the minority. There were ten guys lining the bank of one tiny pool, all hurling giant spoons directly at the lone salmon in there. There was nothing sporting about it.
After expressing my disgust we moved along the creek, hoping to find a quiet spot to fish. As we walked I realized the air had turned foul and started looking around – that was when I noticed several dead fish just off the trail. I asked Darrell if that was normal and he explained that while the salmon would die after spawning, what we were coming across were fish that had been cut open so the roe could be taken. The fish was then left there on the bank.
I was horrified and disappointed in people.
It’s against the law to let a fish go to waste. If you catch it, release it to swim another day, or take it home to eat. Don’t leave it on the bank to rot. I hope the Ministry finally does something about this practice.
We went back to Bronte once more last year and the smell of rotting fish was even worse. We didn’t stay long and I decided I didn’t want to go back. I fish for the sport of it. I accept that fish naturally die off and that, despite your best efforts, not every fish you catch will live. But to snag a fish, and I say snag because that’s exactly what’s going on, with the goal of harvesting the roe…and leaving the fish to decompose on the bank…there’s nothing right about that.
argosgirl
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Sever years ago, on a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend, I witnessed the salmon “circus” at Old Mill on the lower Humber River. One “angler” snagged a salmon with a large trebble hook, dragged it into the shallows to the amazement of the gathering onlookers, and proceeded to gut it for the roe and kicked the carcass back into the water. Legal or not…I’m pretty sure the dozen small children didn’t need to witness such total disregard for a living thing.
It is a terrible thing to watch. There’s nothing sporting about it and I agree, small children especially don’t need witness that!