Fish habitat is defined under the Federal Fisheries Act as:

"spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas on which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes."



In other words, fish habitats include not only the water in rivers, lakes, streams and oceans, but also the quality of that water and the surroundings in which plants and other life forms interact to make fish life possible.


In Manitoba, fish habitats are found in lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, ponds, marshes and reservoirs. Fish depend on these habitats to meet their basic life cycle requirements which are:


Food



Shelter



and Reproduction.



Fish habitat is the backbone of our fisheries, and we have to put safeguards into place to ensure that the basic requirements for life are maintained. This includes water quality and quantity that allows these processes to continue.



Fish habitat is a finite resource and must be protected to support the various fishing activities undertaken in Manitoba. For example, domestic and commercial fishers depend on the habitat to provide fish spawning and nursery areas. Without them no new fish would grow, resulting in the eventual depletion of the stocks. Therefore, the different users of the fishery must share the responsibility and protect and enhance this valuable resource.