For Immediate Release December 19, 2002

NDP fishing regulations deceptive: M.P. Mark

Ottawa - While the NDP Provincial government is planning on announcing new regulations, regulating the length of fish caught on Lake of the Prairies; M.P. Inky Mark says the Conservation Minister is missing the point.

"The provincial government needs to ban all net fishing in all bodies of water where there is no history of commercial fishing. This includes all provincial parks. Lake of the Prairies, for example, is man made and no one can claim historical rights to net fish."

"The proposed regulation that states fishers will not be allowed to keep walleye that measure between 45 and 70 centimetres long at Lake of the Prairies does nothing to address resource issues. It fails to regulate the unlimited net fishing."

"Regulations for all people are needed. Telling anglers that they can't keep a certain size of fish does nothing to stop those people who place nets in the lakes and claim they are fishing for sustenance," Mark stated.

The Supreme Court of Canada has previously ruled that conservation supersedes treaty rights where natural resources are at stake.

"All Manitoban stakeholders need to be consulted on this issue and regulations need to apply to everyone equally," concluded Mark