Urgent Need For 'No Fishing' Signs At Humber Bay Park
- by: David Creelman
- recipient: City Of Toronto
Petition to the City of Toronto
We, the undersigned request the installation of NO FISHING signs on both the east and west end of the boardwalk over the pond just south of Marine Parade Drive and east of Parklawn Road, as well as on the small bridge over the east end of the pond. This will affect only a very small part of the available fishing areas in Humber Bay Park- probably less than 1%.
Reasons for the petition:
Aquatic Bird Safety
This pond has attracted many aquatic birds, including the red-necked grebe which is a sensitive nesting species and is attending a nest in the pond. According to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, this species is considered of regional concern and controlling disturbance associated with urbanization and public land use is a high priority (Terrestrial Biological Inventory and Assessment of March 2014 by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority - http://trca.on.ca/dotAsset/186158.pdf).
Anglers have been seen trying to cast their fishing line at the nesting grebes. Other anglers also cast lines close to the birds who, unfortunately, will go after the baited hook. The resident female grebe was caught by a hook recently in the cheek. It was at a very precarious time for her family, as 6 baby grebes had just hatched! This required the Toronto Wildlife Centre Rescue Team to assist.
Public Safety
The narrow boardwalk and bridge are not suitable fishing locations, because of the heavy pedestrian traffic in this part of the park. People have been snagged by hooks too, and even well meaning fishermen are operating in an inappropriate area.
Please sign to get the city onside with this necessary change.
Here is a very recent Toronto Star article on the situation- http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2015/08/08/wild-in-the-city-grebe-groupies-keep-watchful-eye-over-struggling-pair.html
Petition to the City of Toronto
We, the undersigned request the installation of NO FISHING signs on both the east and west end of the boardwalk over the pond just south of Marine Parade Drive and east of Parklawn Road, as well as on the small bridge over the east end of the pond. This will affect only a very small part of the available fishing areas in Humber Bay Park- probably less than 1%.
Reasons for the petition:
Aquatic Bird Safety
This pond has attracted many aquatic birds, including the red-necked grebe which is a sensitive nesting species and is attending a nest in the pond. According to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, this species is considered of regional concern and controlling disturbance associated with urbanization and public land use is a high priority (Terrestrial Biological Inventory and Assessment of March 2014 by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority - http://trca.on.ca/dotAsset/186158.pdf).
Anglers have been seen trying to cast their fishing line at the nesting grebes. Other anglers also cast lines close to the birds who, unfortunately, will go after the baited hook. The resident female grebe was caught by a hook recently in the cheek. It was at a very precarious time for her family, as 6 baby grebes had just hatched! This required the Toronto Wildlife Centre Rescue Team to assist.
Public Safety
The narrow boardwalk and bridge are not suitable fishing locations, because of the heavy pedestrian traffic in this part of the park. People have been snagged by hooks too, and even well meaning fishermen are operating in an inappropriate area.
Please sign to get the city onside with this necessary change.
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