March 16, 2018
Rural Municipality of Lac Du Bonnet
Box 100
Lac Du Bonnet, Mb.
R0E 1A0
Attention: Reeve Loren Schinkel
Dear Loren,
RE: Sturgeon Closure on Winnipeg River
I’m sure you are aware that the 2018 Angling Guide now reads “Winnipeg River between the Manitoba/Ontario border and the PineFalls Generating Station – closed to lake sturgeon fishing all year.”This closure after years of the Manitoba Government promoting Lake Sturgeon (Catch and Release) will result in severe economic hardship to Eastern Manitoba.
Of the 1239 Master Angler lake sturgeon registered with Travel Manitoba in the last 5 years 1046 (84%) of them were caught in the Winnipeg River system. The days of angling and the economic spinoffs of this amount of activity is hard to assess but to catch a master angler fish takes weeks and sometimes years of effort. With the average angler spending almost $300 a day angling, the economic implications of the closure will reach into the millions of dollars.
The closure to netting of Lake Sturgeon and the restriction of angling to catch and release is truly a success story. Since the 90’s when the closure was imposed, the Lake Sturgeon population has rebounded to support a vibrant angling industry. Now many anglers pursue this fish for that once in a lifetime catch. The scientific data clearly indicates that survival rate of angled Lake Sturgeon (catch and release) is very high. These facts support the removal of this closure on angled Lake Sturgeon (catch and release).
The Lac Du Bonnet Wildlife Association asks that the R.M. of Lac Du Bonnet support the removal of the closure on angled Lake Sturgeon (catch and release) and that the R. M. challenge the Manitoba Government to remove this closure in the shortest possible time.
Thank you for your consideration
Best regards
Brian Shirtliffe
President, Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association
204 345 9545