Sport Fishing Weekend Sweeps Province

With rods and reels in hand, thousands of eager Nova Scotians took to lakes, rivers and streams as part of the fourth annual sportfishing weekend.

"Congratulations to everybody who got out there," said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell after participating in a derby in Sheet Harbour on the Eastern Shore. "It is great to know that there is so much interest, regardless of age."

Twenty official events were held around the province, mostly fishing derbies. The community-based gatherings attracted sponsorship from local businesses and not-for-profit organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

This year's event, on June 6-7, was co-sponsored by the Nova Scotia Wildlife Association, an organization dedicated to the wise use of the province's sport fishing resource and to involving youth in fishing.

"This is one of the highlights of our year," said Frank Gram, past president of the Halifax Wildlife Association at the group's derby in Waverley. "The idea is to get young people involved, especially the kids."

Sport fishing is an $82-million annual industry already attracting 60,000 recreational licence-holders in Nova Scotia. Recreational fishing licences are available at any one of 700 private vendors throughout the province or at one of 25 Department of Natural Resources district offices.