Dear Editor:
As someone who has been fishing at Belwood Lake for many years, I have noticed a very big drop in the fish population and size of fish. Many people are ignoring the rules and regulations.
A few years back, I used to be able to catch tons of little fish (such as perch). Now, I would be lucky to even catch two. Way too many tourists are overfishing the lake, and the fish population can’t keep up with the amount being pulled out.
Lake Belwood is home to many species of fish, including pike, bass, trout and many species of panfish. These species play a very important role in their ecosystem, and their numbers are decreasing. This is impacting the lake’s biodiversity and the lake could easily fall off. This wouldn’t only affect the plants and animals, but it would affect the people who use Belwood Lake for recreational activities.
I think we need stricter rules to properly protect the lake, like limiting the amount of fish you are allowed to keep. We should also enforce the catch-and-release policy, and inform tourists with signs and/or posters about this problem. I am sure that if you are reading this and live near Lake Belwood, you will know exactly what I am talking about.
We can’t let this awesome ecosystem go to waste, so let’s work together to get this lake healthy again.
Josh Dorie,
Belwood