“Conservation
laws must take precedence when dealing with our wildlife resources”
OTTAWA
– The latest events concerning unregulated fishing at Lake of the Prairies has
Yorkton-Melville Member of Parliament, Garry Breitkreuz very concerned.
Over the last month it has been discovered that local First Nation groups
have taken over 90,000 pounds of fish from the lake. Municipal leaders and local
anglers are angry that conservation laws put in place to help develop fish
stocks have been totally disregarded.
“Wildlife
resources are for all of us to share. However,
this situation is different in that this is a man-made lake.
Many people put in a great deal of effort to build up and conserve an
important and valuable resource in this body of water that straddles the
Manitoba-Saskatchewan border. One
group should not exploit these resources after years of effort by others to
develop them,” said Breitkreuz.
Meetings
and rallies held at Lake of the Prairies and in Dauphin, MB have shown the
frustration many anglers and residents have over the unregulated fishing, and
disregard of conservation efforts. The
anger came to a boiling point when nets that were cast into the lake were
removed and burned. Concerns
with this issue have been raised previously by Breitkreuz but have fallen on the
deaf ears of the government ministers. Now
tensions have risen to the point where further inaction on the part of the
federal and provincial governments will likely cause more resentment.
Bob
Schmidt of Russell, Manitoba has been on the front lines of this affair.
“Lately the situation has changed.
We found out that one or two more nets have been put into the lake.
The mood of everyone here is not very good.
I have petitions signed by over 600 people.
On Monday, I will be meeting with the Premier of Manitoba and the
Manitoba Minister of Conservation where we will make our voices heard,” said
Schmidt.
“Something
must be done quickly. I have
written a letter to Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development, making him aware of the situation.
My constituents are very concerned that an important resource has been
destroyed, and a great deal of conservation efforts have been wasted,” said
Breitkreuz.
“Why
don’t those in authority have the courage to address the unregulated fishing
issue?” Breitkreuz asked.
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