Press Release
There are new opportunities and rules for anglers fishing in Ontario’s lakes and rivers.
New fishing regulations for 2010 include:
•year-round fishing for crappie, sunfish, yellow perch, and northern pike in the Kawartha Lakes area;
•longer fall seasons for bass and muskellunge in the Kawartha Lakes area;
•longer winter seasons for lake trout in the Thunder Bay area;
•simpler size restrictions for certain species in the Thunder Bay area; and
•42 more lake trout and brook trout lakes with extended seasons and/or reduced harvest restrictions.
As well, Ontario’s summer Family Fishing Weekend has been extended to a full Family Fishing Week in July.
The 2010 fishing regulations guide is now available at ontario.ca/fishing
Printed copies will be available by Dec. 31 at licence issuers and ServiceOntario/Government Information Centres.
Regulations for some species have been revised to ensure fish stocks are sustainable.
Anglers are encouraged to check the regulations for their area before they go fishing.
For the first time, the review of regulations benefited from the input of new Fisheries Management Zone Advisory Councils.
These councils, composed of local stakeholders, help the Ministry of Natural Resources develop management strategies for their respective zones.
“Our province offers world-class fishing for Ontarians, as well as for anglers from across Canada and beyond,” noted Natural Resources minister Donna Cansfield.
“We’re working to ensure our fish populations remain sustainable so that they continue to provide angling opportunities for years to come,” she added.
“Winter or summer, fishing is a terrific way for people of all ages to spend time in the outdoors,” said Mike Reader, executive director of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
“Across Ontario, fishing affords recreational, social, and financial benefits to countless communities and engages even our youngest residents in caring for our natural resources,” he remarked.
Canadian residents can sample Ontario’s fishing opportunities without a licence during Family Fishing Weekend (Feb. 13-15) and Family Fishing Week (July 3-11).
Conservation limits apply.
More than 1.3 million anglers in Ontario contribute nearly $2.5 billion to the province’s economy.
