MANITOBA WILDLIFE FEDERATION TO SPEARHEAD INITIATIVE
The MWF has signed on to a new project for Big Windy titled “Improved Fisheries Management through Angling Assessment and Education Project” The project has two components.
PART ONE: ANGLING AWARENESS
The MWF is hiring a recreational angling coordinator to assist with public communication around angling awareness. This person will also deal with staff recruitment and provide education to anglers on Manitoba’s impending angling regulation changes.
PART TWO/ CREEL STUDIES ON ANGLER HARVEST
This part of the project is designed to improve the understanding of angler use and harvest on Lake Winnipeg. Money for this initiative has been secured through the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund,
HOW IS THE CREEL STUDY CONDUCTED?
Anglers are asked a series of simple questions, including but not limited to, the number of each species of fish harvested and/or released, the duration of their trip (number of hours spent angling), and the overall quality of their experience. Anglers are provided with an opportunity to comment on fisheries management decisions. Harvested fish may also be weighed, measured, sexed, and aged, providing important biological data on the fishery.
MWF PARTNERS WITH FISHERIES STAFF
Working in partnership with the Fisheries Branch, staff from the Manitoba Wildlife Federation will be interviewing anglers at various access points around the south basin of Lake Winnipeg throughout the winter of 2021/22. Anglers will be surveyed at strategic times and strategic locations.
Survey personnel will collect data from recreational anglers to capture data during peak angling activity and the data will be used to determine overall angling effort and catch per unit effort which would then be extrapolated to determine total harvest. This data will improve the estimate of overall harvest and result in improved management of this high-use fisheries.