OFAH: Ontario Family Fishing Week Starts July 2!

OFAH FILE: 842
June 23, 2011

OFAH: Ontario Family Fishing Week Starts July 2!
Enjoy licence-free fishing and family-friendly fishing events

Across the province families are gearing up for Ontario Family Fishing Week. From July 2 through 10, fishing events will be held in nearly 100 communities, including Toronto, to introduce youth to the joys of fishing and the importance of conservation. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), which administers the program for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), encourages Canadian residents to take advantage of nine full days of licence-free fishing.

“Fishing is the perfect pastime, because every member of the family can enjoy it at their own level. Fishing is great fun, and it can be a source of food as well,” said Mike Reader, OFAH Executive Director. “For those who want to keep their catch, refer to the province’s Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish for information about which species and sizes are best for eating. Then heat up the frying pan and enjoy a fantastic meal of fresh fish.”

During Ontario Family Fishing Week, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years are not required to obtain a licence to fish Ontario waters, but must follow all other provincial fishing regulations (regulations available at www.ontario.ca/fishing). Canadians under 18 and 65 or older are always exempt from requiring a licence.

Ontario Family Fishing Week is an initiative of the OMNR, and includes a summer and a winter version. The program is run by a steering committee comprised of the OFAH, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association. For more information and a complete list of registered Ontario Family Fishing events, visit www.familyfishingweekend.com.

For those that need equipment, the OFAH TackleShare program, generously supported by lead sponsor Ontario Power Generation, lends out fishing gear in much the same way as libraries lend books. Families that want to fish on their own can borrow equipment from one of nearly 100 TackleShare loaner sites around the province. Visit www.tackleshare.com for a complete loaner site list.

The Ontario Guide to Eating Sport Fish gives consumption advice for 1,860 locations. It is jointly produced by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and is available in print and electronic versions. Visit www.ontario.ca/fishguide for details.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 670 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

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