Urgent Need For 'No Fishing' Signs At Humber Bay Park

BY: David Creelman

TARGET: City Of Toronto
543 SUPPORTERS
GOAL: 1,000
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 situationhttp://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2015/08/08/wild-in-the-city-grebe-groupies-keep-watchful-eyeover-struggling-pair.html
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/557/596/523/urgent-need-for-no-fishing-signs/
Jason M.
9 months ago
ON
The storm water management pond at the north end of Humber Bay Park East should remain off limits to
fishers, boaters, etc. It needs to be a recognized natural habitat protected by law. In addition to the grebes
that have made this area their home every year, this very small waterway also attracts a wide variety of
birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and semiaquatic animals; some which are listed as threatened
species. Ive witnessed the fishermen (either on the bridge, or off the side) standing in nesting areas along
the shore, with a total disregard for both the wildlife and humans in their vicinity. I myself have almost
been caught by a hook, despite informing the fisherman that I was walking by. Other visitors to the park
have not been so lucky. Humber Bay Park East is frequently listed on birding websites and forums as a
hotspot for bird watching. As well, Humber Bay Park has received attention by local newspapers and
blogs. This brings a lot of visitors from outside the area to the park, which adds revenue for the businesses
around the area (including the Farmers Market every Saturday). Many people from the surrounding
condos who arent avid birders, will make the time to walk across the bridge to stop in on the grebes.
Both birders and non-birders alike eagerly await and anticipate the hatching of the baby grebes every
year. This encourages people to learn about the nature that surrounds them in Toronto , enhances a sense
of community, and creates social opportunities for wildlifers. The grebes could be considered the star
attraction of the storm water management pond, which some people now refer to as the grebe pond. This
year has been tragic for our resident grebes. They lost two clutches of eggs (one due to storm, the other
due to humans). The third clutch was successful. The additional stress of boaters around their nest, or
fisherman throwing lines toward their nest, etc., could be avoided if some laws were enacted to make this
area a protected habitat. It is truly one of the more biodiverse hidden gems in Toronto. We should do what
we can to maintain this diversity, and encourage the wildlife to keep coming back rather then allowing
them to be stressed to the point where they never return.