Sportfishing Weekend Planned for June 5-6

Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to experience sportfishing in the province during the 10th annual sportfishing weekend June 5-6.

"This weekend is an opportunity to introduce Nova Scotians to angling, bring others back to the sport or take the family sportfishing without requiring a licence," said Chris d'Entremont, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will host 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. All bag limits and regulations will also apply.

Sport fishing in Nova Scotia is worth an estimated $85 million a year to the province's economy. An industry survey conducted in 2000 revealed that more than 75,000 Nova Scotians 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 visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/sportfishing or call the department's inland fisheries division at 902-485-5056.