Changes to Wildlife Regulations

Environment and Conservation Minister Tom Osborne today advised of changes to Wildlife Regulations related to inland fishing that support recently announced amendments to the Wildlife Act concerning penalties and deterrents for those who participate in illegal fisheries activities such as salmon poaching. The changes also clarify some legislative anomalies that existed within the Wildlife Regulations related to inland fisheries.

"Strengthening our Wildlife Act and clarifying our regulations related to inland fisheries demonstrate government�s commitment to sustaining the important recreational fisheries of our province," said Minister Osborne. "We are dedicated to sound conservation and management of our inland fisheries and these regulatory changes, coupled with the changes to the Wildlife Act recently given Royal Assent in the House of Assembly, will help ensure these goals are achieved."

Highlights of the regulatory changes include:

� Prohibiting persons from holding multiple licences.
� Amendments to allow anglers to fish, catch and release after all their tags have been used.
� Their licence is their permit to angle.
� A provision that makes altering or changing inland fishery licences illegal.
� A provision that clarifies the need for non-residents to possess a valid non-resident trout licence when retaining trout angled in scheduled waters.

To view changes to the Wildlife Act and Regulations, visit the House of Assembly Web site at //www.hoa.gov.nl.ca/hoa/business/. For further information, contact John Blake, Inland Fish and Wildlife Division, at (709)-637-2354.

Media contact: Sonia Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575, 685-6612

2005 06 03                         10:15 a.m.