Section: tips-tactics
Bill RiversSelective Harvest ...Catch & Release Sensibilities | presented by ...
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| Now that you have landed that fish of a lifetime - a hawg bass, 10-lb walleye or trophy pike - it's decision time. Keep it or release it ? With all the hype surrounding catch & release, selective harvest, conservation and the responsible management of fish stocks, what's an angler to do ? | |
 | It is the Ontario Fisherman's firm belief that the decision to keep or release fish (within MNR regs) rests solely with the angler. However, informed anglers must recognize that having a choice requires that they be fully aware of the impact each decision has on the fishery. Finally, the Ontario Fisherman staff both practices and preaches the purposeful, regulated and selective harvest of fish - recreationally and commercially. |
| The phrase "catch & release", while widely used, implies that fish have little value other than providing recreation for anglers. More recently, "selective harvest" has been more widely embraced as a meaningful policy statement presenting both options - the choice of keeping or releasing fish caught by angling means. And, selective harvest offers an effective conservation strategy that will help insure the perpetuation of fish stocks. |
| Citizenship affords certain rights - fishing is not one of them ! Fishing is a privilege of citizenship, one that can be revoked if circumstances warrant. The purchase of a licence imposes responsibilities, obligating anglers to assume stewardship of the resource and accept responsibility for its effective utilization and conservation. |  C & R Issues |