News Releases

Manitoba Water Stewardship advises the conservation measures put in place to protect walleye populations in Lake Dauphin will be extended until May 8. 

 

The moratorium that was implemented on April 20 was to end on May 3, but the spawning season has been prolonged because of cool temperatures.  Normally, the spawning season takes place in the last two weeks of April, but this year will extend into the first week of May.

 

The moratorium on all walleye fishing in two tributaries of Dauphin Lake, plus limits on other tributaries during spawning season, will help keep fish stocks healthy for future generations.  This temporary closure prohibits catching and retaining walleye on the Turtle and Valley rivers from
April 20 to and including May 8.

 

To ensure the closure on the Turtle and Valley rivers does not shift unsustainable fishing harvest onto other Dauphin Lake tributaries, anyone exercising an Aboriginal or treaty right to fish for food will be limited to a daily total limit of six walleye caught by angling only (rod and reel) from all of the Wilson, Vermillion and Ochre rivers and Edwards and Mink creeks from April 20 to and including
May 8.

 

Manitoba Water Stewardship will continue to monitor the spawning of walleye in these tributaries and if spawning is completed earlier than is now anticipated, the moratorium may end sooner than May 8 to ensure minimum infringement of treaty and Aboriginal rights.

 

These steps are in addition to existing measures such as reductions in the commercial harvest of walleye from Lake Dauphin, reductions of the daily catch limit of walleye for anglers, requiring all spawning-sized walleye to be released and closure of all commercial and recreational fishing during the spring spawning season.

 

The Province of Manitoba remains committed to working with the West Region Tribal Council and other commercial and recreational users of the fishery to establish a long-term co-management agreement and protocol that respects the advice of area elders.

 

- 30 -