The 2019 Lake Ontario Fisheries Symposium with fish movement as a theme will be held at the Fingerlakes Mall, 1579 Clark Street Road, Auburn, N.Y., on March 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The symposium is open to the public; people of all ages can attend to learn about fishing on Lake Ontario and its tributaries from professional anglers, fisheries managers, and scientists.
There is no fee to attend, but registration is required at ILoveNYFishing.com or www.nyseagrant.org/losportfish.
"The program is designed to provide new and useful information from fish basics to the latest cutting edge fisheries technology to a broad range of anglers," says co-organizer Jesse Lepak, Ph.D., a Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist with New York Sea Grant, Oswego, N.Y.
"Our goal is to attract aspiring anglers as well as generating interest in sustainable fisheries by raising awareness about Lake Ontario's fabulous fisheries and fishing opportunities," Lepak adds.
Ten educational seminars will be held throughout the day with question-and-answer sessions following morning and afternoon speaker sessions. Visitors can attend any or all of the programs.
There will be a variety of informational posters developed by regional fish managers and researchers, fish tank exhibits, outdoor gear vendors, door prizes, and activities, such as crafts and casting, for learning more about fish, fishing, and fisheries.
Keynote speaker Silviya Ivanova, Ph.D. student with the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, will discuss her research tracking salmon and trout in Lake Ontario at 3:00 p.m.
New York Sea Grant, the Lake Ontario Sportfishing Promotion Council, Fingerlakes Mall, Bass Pro Shops, and other partners are sponsoring this Fish on the Move Symposium. A complete schedule of activities is posted at www.nyseagrant.org/losportfish.
For more information or directions, contact New York Sea Grant Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist Jesse Lepak at 315-312-3042, jml78@cornell.edu.
To learn more about New York Sea Grant, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, visit www.nyseagrant.org.
