Sport Fishing Weekend Planned for June 1-2

All Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to experience one of our province's favorite pastimes during the eighth annual sport fishing weekend June 1-2.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, along with the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters, will co-sponsor this year's event, in which residents of the province can fish without a general sport fishing licence. However, licence requirements and regulations will apply for fishing Atlantic salmon.

"The sport fishing weekend encourages Nova Scotians to try the sport without a fishing licence," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. Mr. Fage has been a sport fisherman for more than 35 years. "Hopefully after the weekend more people will be hooked on fishing, since it can be enjoyed at any age and in most areas of the province."

Participants are encouraged to fish where fish stocks are healthy. Where fish stocks are less than ideal, the practice of catch and release is strongly recommended.

Sport fishing in Nova Scotia is worth an estimated $85 million a year to the province's economy. A 2000 industry survey revealed that more than 56,000 Nova Scotia adults sport fish each year and thousands more visit the province to fish. Most surveyed anglers rated the fishing in Nova Scotia as good, very good or excellent.

For more information on the eighth annual sport fishing weekend visit the department's Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/sportfishing or call the Inland Fisheries Division at 902-485-5056.