The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold three public meetings in February and early March to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries, one each in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties.

Lake Ontario fisheries are important to the environment and regional economy.DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said the meetings will "provide an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the lake to interact with the scientists who study its fisheries."

Lake Ontario, its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish.

New York's Lake Ontario waters comprise more than 2.7 million acres. A 2007 statewide angler survey estimated more than 2.6 million angler days were spent on Lake Ontario and major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million to the local New York economy.

The meeting dates are as follows:

• Wednesday, February 22, 2012: 7 - 9:30 p.m. at the Oswego County BOCES, 179 County Route 64, Mexico (Oswego County). The meeting is co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association.

• Tuesday, February 28, 2012: 7 - 9:30 p.m. at the Ingel Auditorium, in Building 4 (Student Union) on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus, Rochester (Monroe County). The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.

• Thursday, March 1, 2012: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport (Niagara County). The meeting is co-hosted by Niagara County Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Sportfishery Development Board.

Information summaries for a host of Lake Ontario fisheries assessment programs will be posted on DEC's website prior to the public meetings. Previous annual reports can also be found here .