Live Release of Quebec?s Large Salmon in 2016 a Welcome Move, says ASF

The Atlantic Salmon Federation is pleased by a recent announcement to implement mandatory catch and release of large Atlantic salmon in the salmon rivers of the Quebec City region, the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and the North Shore in 2016.

St. Andrews, NB (PRWEB) September 25, 2015

The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) welcomes today?s announcement by Quebec?s Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks indicating the government will implement mandatory catch and release of large Atlantic salmon in the salmon rivers of the Quebec City region, the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and the North Shore in 2016.

?This is a positive move by the minister,? says Charles Cusson, Director of Quebec Programs for ASF. ?It is a positive step for wild Atlantic salmon, the sports fishery and the communities in Quebec that depend on the sport fishery. It will help keep populations of wild Atlantic salmon healthy to enable future enjoyment of the cultural and economic benefits of the species.?

The Quebec government has also announced that this mandatory catch and release of large salmon at the beginning of the season will be reviewed mid-season based on mid-season counts. It may be possible to retain large salmon caught in the second half of the season. (http://www.mffp.gouv.qc.ca/presse/communiques-detail.jsp?id=11528)

?Now, more than ever, we need action to help ensure the sustainability of wild Atlantic salmon populations in Quebec,? says Cusson.

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The Atlantic Salmon Federation is dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon and the ecosystems on which their well-being and survival depend. ASF has a network of seven regional councils (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Maine and Western New England). The regional councils cover the freshwater range of the Atlantic salmon in Canada and the United States.

ASF Contacts:

Charles Cusson, Director, Quebec Programs
fsamtl(at)bell(dot)net
(514)-926-1412

Holly Johnson, Manager of Public Information: (506)529-1033(o)
(506)469-1033(c), HJohnson(at)asf(dot)ca

To view this story online visit: http://asf.ca/live-release-of-qc-large-salmon-in-2016.html

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/09/prweb12985847.htm