INUVIK - A rapid trout decline in the population in Airport Lake has resulted in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans proposing a ban on sport fishing during the fish's breeding period.

Larry Dow, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Western Arctic district manager, said the time frame is expected to be between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31. The department is hoping to have its proposal made law by next season or the following one.

Larry Dow, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Western Arctic district manager, said low oxygen levels at Airport Lake are wreaking havoc on its trout population. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The law will not affect Gwich'in and Inuvialuit subsistence fishers.

The measure comes after fisheries biologist Steve Sandstrom conducted both oxygen and population tests on the lake earlier this summer. By setting 25 sets of nets for two hours at a time in different areas of the lake, Sandstrom determined the approximate population of trout measuring more than 300 mm in length to be 1,700. Dow said that's an unusually low number of trout for such a large body of water. Oxygen level test results showed that almost the entire area of the lake has less than half the amount of oxygen needed for trout to thrive, which is about 7 parts per million (ppm). The low oxygen content, Dow said, can be attributed to the fact that the lake has few inflow or outflow tributaries.

"This lake is almost on the edge. It's very concerning. But we plan to keep doing tests throughout the winter."

Currently, licensed sport fishers who use the lake are allowed a three and five quota, meaning they are permitted a daily catch limit of three trout as well as a limit of five trout in their possession. The department is also pushing for a catch and release ban during the spawning season.

DFO already has the support of Nihtat Renewable Resources Council (NRRC) and Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board (GRRB), which is needed to make the proposal law.

Amy Thompson, executive director of the GRRB, said members of the board are in full support, even though most fishers don't subsistence fish in Airport Lake. She said the board is recommending a ban during the breeding period.

She said she hopes DFO continues to monitor all aspects of the lake, from fishing stocks to water quality to oxygen levels.