Recreational fishing enthusiasts from across the province will meet next week to work on a long-term plan to enhance fish habitat and encourage more Islanders to discover or rediscover the enjoyment of fishing.
About 60 people are expected to attend the one-day workshop, entitled The Recreational Fishery on Prince Edward Island: Challenges and Opportunities. It is sponsored by the Prince County Chapter of Trout Unlimited, with support from the PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry and the Wildlife Conservation Fund.
“Through events such as this workshop and the annual Take Your Family Fishing Weekend in May, the Province continues to work with community groups to promote fishing as an easy, inexpensive and fun family activity,” said Minister Jamie Ballem. “I congratulate the Prince County Chapter of Trout Unlimited for providing this opportunity for Islanders who love fishing to come together and find ways to ensure that this Island tradition remains a strong part of our heritage,” said Minister Ballem.
Guest speaker at the workshop will be Jack Imhof, national biologist for Trout Unlimited Canada and former aquatic ecologist and research scientist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
“Mr. Imhof has a wealth of expertise in watershed science and fish habitat management,” noted Dave Biggar, president of the Prince County Chapter of Trout Unlimited. “We can certainly learn from his experience as we work to enhance the fishery in Prince Edward Island.”
Also on the agenda for the February 28 workshop, UPEI Biology Professor Daryl Guignion will do a presentation on key issues regarding fish habitat in PEI, and Mr. Biggar will highlight work on the Trout River as an example of river specific management. Participants will then work on a long-term strategy for recreational fisheries enhancement including setting priorities, developing new opportunities, planning, and monitoring and assessment.
Prince Edward Island sees several benefits from the recreational fishery. Angling contributes to healthy lifestyles and results in significant economic spinoffs, with $3.6 million in spending directly attributable to the recreational fishery. Anglers also play an important role in ensuring fish populations and fish habitat remain healthy - through volunteer work as well as licence purchases which provide funding for the Wildlife Conservation Fund. In 2004-2005, the Wildlife Conservation Fund provided more than $40,000 funding support for 35 community-led projects directed at enhancing stream conditions for fish and carrying out watershed planning activities.
For information on the recreational fishery workshop, contact Dave Biggar at (902) 859-2124 or Rosanne MacFarlane at (902) 368-6082.