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Fish Ontario
Overview
Few outdoor experiences can compare with fishing in Ontario’s 250,000 lakes and the thousands of rivers and streams. It is a favourite activity that Ontario residents and visitors enjoy year-round.
New Automated Licensing System
The Ministry of Natural Resources is proceeding with the implementation of an automated licensing service for the sale of fishing and hunting licences. Licences will be available through the system at over 1,800 private licence issuers across the province, at ServiceOntario counters, online, and through an automated toll-free telephone service. The target implementation date for the new system is late 2010.
The new automated licensing system will offer many benefits to anglers and hunters, including:
- an increased range of fishing and hunting licences and other
services, such as big game draw entry, available online; - non-Canadian resident anglers and hunters will be able to purchase fishing and hunting licences online and through an automated toll-free telephone system;
- new anglers will be able to purchase their first Outdoors Card online;
- easier replacement of lost or stolen licences.
Ontario's Fish
Ontario is home to 2,000 lakes that contain lake trout, more than 3,500 lakes with walleye and 400 lakes and rivers that are home to muskellunge. Despite the abundance of Ontario's fisheries resources, they are in high demand.
Fish are an important part of the province's economy. Ontario's fisheries sustain the sport fishing and tourist industries, as well as the commercial fishery. About 1.27 million anglers fish in Ontario each year. These anglers spend more than $2.5 billion dollars annually on fisheries-related expenditures.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, as the manager of Ontario's fisheries, works to maintain healthy fish communities so present and future generations will enjoy high quality fishing and viewing opportunities. One of the ways we can ensure healthy fish communities is to manage our fisheries on a broad, landscape level.
Anglers are reminded that Fisheries Management Zones replaced the former fishing divisions in 2008. This management approach makes the fishing regulations easier to understand.
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Canadian (other than Ontario) anglers and non-Canadian anglers will receive one of these Outdoors Cards when they fish in Ontario. |
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Fish Licence Free!
Ontario Family Fishing Weekend
February 13 - 15, 2010
Learn more
2010 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary
Highlights of New Provincial Regulations for 2010 (PDF, 2 mb)
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This site is maintained by the Government of Ontario
Last Modified: January 18, 2010