In time for the 2013 angling season, the Ministry of Environment amended The Fisheries Regulations to reduce red tape while continuing to protect fishing in Saskatchewan.
"Saskatchewan's freshwater fishing is some of the best in the world," Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says. "As a government, we can build on the experience for residents and visitors by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of managing the province's fishing resources."
Reducing the red tape for most competitive fishing events, the amendments will eliminate or streamline the licence requirement. Such events have become an increasingly popular means of raising money for a variety of organizations and a licence will no longer be required for individuals or organizations wishing to hold a competitive fishing event as long as they follow standard requirements.
To ensure that fish stocks remain healthy for anglers, the amendments will help prevent the introduction of high-risk diseases into Saskatchewan, including Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS). VHS is a viral disease that has been detected in frozen bait fish from other jurisdictions and has the ability to spread to live fish. Frozen fish from jurisdictions known to have VHS will be allowed for use as bait only if they can be certified to be free of the disease.
The amendments will also provide additional protection to species at risk including sturgeon and mountain sucker and increase consistency with other provincial and federal regulations.
"Recreational fishing has always been an important activity in Saskatchewan," Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Fisheries Project Co-ordinator Adam Matichuk said. "With increasing pressures on our aquatic ecosystems, we are pleased that the government is taking steps to improve the protection of our fisheries resource for future generations."
"In 2010, 224,000 anglers spent more than $300 million on sport fishing in the province," Cheveldayoff said. "This represents a 13 per cent increase in the number of anglers and a 38 per cent increase in spending from 2005. In addition, there are approximately 500 commercial fishers and 390 outfitters who rely on the fishery for economic and social benefits. Our results-based, regulatory model helps us protect these resources now and into the future."
