OTTAWA - With hunting season underway across the country, the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, is urging hunters to keep boating safety top of mind as they head out onto lakes and streams.

"Canadian waters are extremely cold at this time of the year. Hunters should take care to avoid the risk of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold water," said Minister Thibault. "Hunters should follow basic boating safety rules before engaging in their sport."

Each year, approximately 200 people die in boating accidents. In most cases, these accidents are preventable. The Canadian Coast Guard advises all hunters to:
* Wear personal flotation devices or lifejackets. Ninety percent of all persons who drown in recreational boating incidents are not wearing a flotation device. All recreational vessels operating in Canada are required to have one Canadian-approved PFD or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board. In addition, a brightly coloured PFD will help increase visibility during hunting season.
* Have the appropriate safety equipment on board, for example, flares, whistles, flashlights.
* Ensure that their vessels are in good working order and properly equipped.
* Advise a responsible person of the route, destination as well as time and/or date of return.
* Have some means of communication, i.e. a cell phone if signals work or a hand-held radio;
* Avoid the use of alcohol, which reduces reaction time and impairs judgement. Mixing boating with alcohol is an unsafe practice at any time, but during the hunting season, it is extremely dangerous. Drinking while boating is a criminal offence.
* Pack charts and/or maps of the area on board.
* Keep canoes and other non-powered vessels close to the shore.

More information on boating safety can be obtained by contacting the Canadian Coast Guard's Office of Boating Safety at 1-800-267-6687 or by visiting the Office of Boating Safety web site at www.boatingsafety.gc.ca.

Contacts:

Sophie Galarneau
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 998-1530

Jennifer Savoy
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474