So much to see. So much to experience. So much to enjoy. Manitoba is a world-class destination for outdoor adventure. We are home to incredible fisheries and diverse aquatic ecosystems. More than 90 species of fish await residents and visitors, from the delicious Goldeye and Walleye, to the ferocious Northern Pike and the massive Lake Sturgeon which can grow to over 1.5 metres and live for more than 150 years.
Manitoba has the finest freshwater fisheries in the Western Hemisphere, supporting Indigenous subsistence harvest, recreational angling, and commercial fishing. Fisheries management programs are developed to protect, enhance and manage Manitoba’s fisheries for the benefit of the fish and all resource users. These programs are expertly delivered by biologists, planners, technicians, support staff and partners to conserve these precious resources for future generations.
The Manitoba government is responding to the growing demand for sustainably sourced fish in local and international markets by working with commercial fisheries to achieve sustainable fisheries with a view toward eco-certification for Manitoba’s largest commercial fisheries.
Eco-certification, also known as Sustainable Fisheries Certification, is a process in which a fishery is assessed against specific standards by a third-party assessment body. Although Manitoba currently has two certified fisheries, Waterhen Lake and Cedar Lake, certifying Manitoba’s three largest commercial fisheries (Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis) are key to maintaining markets for Manitoba fish products.
To respond to recent market risks brought forward by Manitoba’s largest fish buyers, the Manitoba government has partnered with Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg Commercial Fishers on Prospective Fisheries Improvement Projects.
