Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation to launch new series of instructional fishing workshops

To help newcomers to Canada learn the fundamentals of fishing and conservation, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation is planning to launch a new series of instructional workshops and online presentations.

“The number of immigrants we have coming into our country is growing all the time,” says the SWF’s executive director, Darrell Crabbe. “Many of them come from places where catch-and-release fishing isn’t practised. Fishing for them is more about putting food on the table.”

Crabbe says the idea for the new program came about after in-depth conversations with conservation officers; they said they were encountering a lot of new Canadians in the field who weren’t following the province’s fishing regulations. In some cases, there was a language barrier at play. And for many, conservation just wasn’t a consideration. “So, we thought this would be a great opportunity for us to play a role.”

The plan is to host in-person workshops in major centres across the province, including Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and Saskatoon. As well, there will be learning opportunities online for people who can’t attend in-person sessions. The content of the workshops was still being worked out at press time, but Crabbe says he expects they will cover subjects such as fishing etiquette, slot sizes, limits, where to go fishing and what tackle to use.

According to Crabbe, the SWF has been in touch with multicultural organizations across the province, and so far, feedback about the proposed program has been positive. He says that there will be some logistical hurdles to overcome in terms of language barriers and the need for translators, but that the SWF remains committed to the idea. “We’re excited about it.”

Learn more about the SWF’s programs and positions at www.swf.sk.ca.