Nova Scotia Anglers' Handbook & 2013 Summary of Regulations

Message from Sterling Belliveau,Minister of Fisheries and AquacultureSportfishing is one of many outdoor experiences thatNova Scotia offers and can be enjoyed by all ages. Theprovinces’ freshwater fishing spots offer an opportunityto see our wild areas. For many anglers - exploring whatis around the next bend or visiting a new fishing spot forthe first time is an important part of the adventure.Whether it’s an angler picking up a rod for the firsttime or an accomplished fisher returning to a favouritelake or river, more people are enjoying the outdoorsthrough recreational fishing. Our extensive trout andsalmon stocking efforts and award-winning programs likeLearn to Fish and Becoming an Outdoors Woman havehelped this increase.One of the benefits of increasing numbers of anglersis the financial support fishing licence sales provide tothe Nova Scotia Sportfish Habitat Fund. Last yearanglers contributed over $300,000 to the fund whichprovides money for programs such as Adopt-A-Streamand barrier-free access projects to help all anglers accesstheir favourite fishing spots. Dozens of volunteer anglinggroups access these programs each year to improve and restore fish habitat and angler access.I am pleased to announce that after years of perseverance by my staff and extensive consultationwith anglers and First Nations, we are introducing long awaited legislation to curb the illegalspread of invasive species like smallmouth bass and chain pickerel. The new Live Fish PossessionRegulations make it illegal for anyone to possess live fish without a valid reason. Moving fish fromone body of water into another is harmful to existing species, the fishery and causes irreversibledamage to the ecosystem. Nova Scotia has set the standard in Canada for legislation to address theproblem of invasive species while preserving traditional angling opportunities.Under the new regulation, existing activities such as the use of live bait, permitted live-releasetournaments, stocking, fish purchased for aquaria, taking photos, reviving fish to be released, and otherlegitimate activities will still be allowed. For most anglers this regulation means you must decide torelease your fish upon capture or harvest it according to bag limits for the species. Please refer to the“New for 2013” section of this handbook for more details. In addition, a complete citation of the newregulation and a list of frequently asked questions is available on our Departmental website.Maintaining the ability to provide scientific advice to support fisheries management decisionsin a small Department is challenging. In 2012, six projects were funded under the FreshwaterFisheries Research Cooperative which leveraged a total of $136,000 from an investment of $30,000.Department staff work with researchers from four Nova Scotia universities, the Department ofFisheries and Oceans, and several NGO’s to supervise projects designed to provide answers tocurrent fisheries management questions.Anyone wanting to find out what the sport has to offer should take part in a sportfishingweekend, happening June 1 and 2, 2013 and February 15 and 16, 2014. Anglers may fish without alicence only on those weekends. I encourage anyone who is searching for a perfect outdoor activity forfamily togetherness to take advantage of this great opportunity.This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Nova Scotia Salmon Association. We congratulatethem on their continued efforts to conserve and protect wild salmon.We are fortunate to live in a place where there are many opportunities to fish. Few things in lifeoffer both calm and exhilaration like sportfishing, but please put safety first. I especially urge those onthe water to use personal flotation devices.All the best for an enjoyable and safe fishing experience in Nova Scotia.2A n g l e r s ' H A n d b o o k • 2 0 1 3