REDUCING COMMERCIAL FISHING WILL NET BENEFITS FOR ALBERTA'S FISHERIES

EDMONTON - This year, there will be nearly 300 fewer commercial fishing operators in Alberta, part of the Alberta government's efforts to manage and sustain fish resources.

Fewer commercial fishing operators will allow Alberta to better manage the harvest for domestic, sport and commercial fishing interests. With fewer commercial fishing operators, Alberta is hoping to promote commercial fishing as a viable industry for the remaining commercial operators.

"We've been paving the way to rationalize the commercial fishing industry for the last 20 years, by reducing the number of licensed commercial operators," said Mike Cardinal, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. "There are many positive benefits to Alberta's fisheries and this also means good news for anglers."

The Province began taking more active steps to reduce the number of commercial fishing operators about two years ago. Alberta increased commercial fishing licence fees and developed a commercial fishing compensation program to encourage a reduction from approximately 800 to about 200 licensed operators.

Alberta can support a viable commercial fishing industry despite having the fourth highest freshwater angling pressure in Canada. Alberta's 1,100 water bodies that contain fish support an estimated 320,000 anglers, who contribute about $350 million to Alberta's economy each year.

The commercial fishing compensation program is expected to take three to five years to complete. As money is available, operators will be compensated in the order in which they applied for the program. This fiscal year, the Alberta government is investing $2 million toward commercial fishing compensation.

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For further information:

Dave Ealey
Communications
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Edmonton, (780) 427-8636

Hugh Norris
Head, Fisheries Resource Allocation and Use
Fish and Wildlife Division
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Edmonton, (780) 427-7769