Key stakeholder groups have applauded the news this month that the Manitoba government is working on establishing sustainability on Lake Winnipeg.
Paul Conchatre, President of the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association believes this is a huge step by the current government.
“This move towards proper management of Lake Winnipeg needs to be commended, Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires and staff continue to tread waters that previous governments wouldn’t dare touch! To us this is the leadership we were all in need of, not only is this government working towards a sustainable Lake Winnipeg fishery, but they are also working on many other resource-based issues that were need of desperate attention. People out there have to know that it’s only a small minority that are opposed to science-based management of our resources and thank goodness for that.”
Minister Squires announced that the Manitoba government will offer the option of voluntary Individual Quota Entitlement buy-back, and introduce new commercial and recreational fishing regulations intended to help assure sustainable fish populations in Lake Winnipeg
Brian Kotak, managing director of the MWF says “”The Manitoba Wildlife Federation is pleased to learn of the Province of Manitoba’s recent announcement to ensure a sustainable fishery on Lake Winnipeg. It is a positive step forward on the long road ahead. We all want a sustainable fishery for both the commercial fishing industry and for angling and tourism”.
The province is offering a voluntary commercial fisheries quota buy-back option until March 21st. Commercial fishers can make Notifications of Interest to sell their Individual Quota Entitlements (annual allowable catch) to the province. The province will then retire the purchased entitlements in order to reduce the amount of commercial catch taken from the lake every year. So far more than 50 commercial license holders have applied.
The Pallister government has allocated $5,000,000 towards the buy back. Anglers are also contributing another $400,000 through the Fisheries and Wildlife Enhancement Fund. While this doesn’t totally solve the crisis, stakeholder groups are applauding this bold first step.
“The commercial fishers need to understand that anglers are not seeking an end to the commercial fishery,” says David Carrick of Fish Futures. “We simply want the Lake Winnipeg fishery to be managed by the Government in a sustainable manner that ensures that there is a healthy fishery for all users (commercial, subsistence and anglers), both now and in the future, and will therefore advocate for and support science-based initiatives that have this objective.”
In an effort to allow more smaller fish to grow to spawning size and increase the overall natural productivity of the lake over time, the province will be consulting fishers on other sustainable regulation measures, including net minimum mesh sizes and recreational angling minimum length retention limits.
Mark Klimchuk, Past President of the Walleye Anglers of Manitoba, says “I think everyone involved should stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being excited of what could go right. It’s great to see this current government leaving the comfort zone , I applaud them for making change!”