Minister of Environment Chester Gillan is encouraging Islanders to celebrate National Fishing Week with an outing to one of Prince Edward Island's many fishing holes.
The week of July 5-13 is designated National Fishing Week in Canada. Part of "Catch Fishing," a national awareness campaign aimed at encouraging Canadians of all ages to take up sport fishing, this special week is set aside to celebrate recreational fishing as an important part of Canada's outdoor heritage.
"No matter where you live in Prince Edward Island, you are certain to be within minutes of some of the best angling in some of the most beautiful natural areas you will find anywhere," said Minister Gillan. "I urge Islanders and visitors to discover these beautiful spots and discover the fun that comes with a family fishing outing."
The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment has been working with several community partners, including the PEI Wildlife Federation, the Souris and Area Wildlife Federation, and the Atlantic Salmon Federation, to promote fishing as an easy, inexpensive and fun family activity.
After experiencing a steady decline in the number of recreational fishers in recent years, Prince Edward Island saw sales of trout licences increase by eight per cent and salmon licences by almost 18 per cent last year. Minister Gillan said the Province wants to build on that success.
"Fishing is not only an excellent way for families to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and spend quality time together, it also helps foster a greater appreciation of our natural environment," the Minister said. "Anglers have always made a tremendous contribution to protecting and enhancing our natural resources. We want a new generation of sport fishers to carry on that tradition."
According to the 2000 Recreational Fishing Survey, Island anglers spent 12,980 volunteer days on tasks such as stream enhancement in 2000. In addition, licence purchases in 2002-2003 resulted in close to $70,000 funding support going to 51 community-led conservation projects. That included 38 projects directed at enhancing stream conditions for fish.
The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment has a variety of materials to help first-time anglers get started, including maps of fishing locations across the province. For further information, call (902) 368-4683 or check the web site at www.gov.pe.ca/fae.
Take Your Family Fishing - Tips for Parents to Help Ensure a Fun Outing. Children can get bored after an hour or so. To keep them interested, let them try different baits or other places to fish. Encourage them to go exploring, take some outdoor toys or let them take a swim.
Pay attention to their equipment and ensure that they are placing their bait in a logical place to catch a fish such as close to rocks, logs, dock pilings, or weed clumps, etc. Share your knowledge but try not to make youngsters feel like they are being lectured. Some special snacks or a picnic lunch will add to the enjoyment of the day. Pay attention to what parts of the fishing adventure the children liked and disliked. It is important to reinforce the positive experiences and learn from the things that they did not care for. Start planning your next fishing outing right away.