January 9, 2008
Record Support For Fisheries Protection Will Ensure Great Manitoba Angling For Years To Come: Melnick
Record investments to enhance provincial fisheries and strengthen protection of the province’s lakes and rivers will ensure Manitoba residents and tourists have abundant opportunities to enjoy some of the finest fishing in the country through the 2008 angling season and well into the future, Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick said today.
“Manitoba anglers and guests to our province enjoy excellent opportunities to fish northern pike, walleye, channel catfish, lake trout, goldeye and other popular catches that make our province a popular and affordable destination for great fishing,” Melnick said. “The investments we’re making today to protect our fisheries will ensure Manitoba will be home to some of the best fishing in Canada for years to come.”
“Purchasing an angling licence supports Manitoba’s new Fisheries Enhancement Fund, making recreational fishers financial stakeholders in protecting our waterways and conserving and enhancing fish stocks for future generations,” said David Carrick, chair of the Project Review Committee for the Fisheries Enhancement Fund. “Manitoba anglers will continue to work in partnership with the province to ensure Manitoba’s abundant water resources and valuable recreational fisheries are protected.”
Licence rates for the 2008 angling season, which increased $3 from the 2007 season, remain among the lowest in Canada:
· resident, conservation licence – $13.28;
· resident, regular licence – $18.89;
· Canadian resident, conservation licence – $21.69;
· Canadian resident, regular licence – $40.38;
· non-resident, conservation licence – $31.04;
· non-resident, regular licence – $54.40; and
· senior resident, conservation licence – free.
The minister noted Manitoba angling fees are considerably lower than in neighbouring provinces. Licences are subject to GST and available at hundreds of businesses throughout the province and at Manitoba Conservation offices. Recreational fishing includes angling, spear fishing, bow fishing, dip netting, seining and minnow trapping.
Manitoba works to protect and strengthen the province’s fisheries by investing in dozens of fisheries improvement initiatives provincewide through the Fisheries Enhancement Fund, said Melnick. Increased revenue from angling licence sales will be reinvested in a record $850,000 this fiscal year to fisheries improvements through the fund. Support for projects related to fisheries research, fish stock assessment, fisheries habitat rehabilitation and educational initiatives will be announced in the coming year. The minister noted investment in improving Manitoba’s fisheries will have grown by more than $500,000 since 2006-07.
More information on Manitoba’s Fisheries Enhancement Fund and angling in Manitoba is available online at www.manitobafisheries.com.
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