Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development advises that conservation officers are continuing enforcement to protect Manitoba’s natural resources, including compliance checks for winter fisheries, and to address illegal hunting.

With winter fishing seasons underway, conservation officers and resource management staff are actively conducting compliance checks on Manitoba’s commercial and angling fisheries including Lake Winnipeg. This includes checking for unmarked or illegal nets, quota violations and other infractions.

From March 3 to 16, Manitoba conservation officers laid 46 charges and issued two warnings related to fisheries related offenses:

  • four charges on unlawful possession of fish,
  • four charges on fishing without a license,
  • nine charges on fishing with too many lines,
  • 28 charges and two warnings on fishing with illegal equipment, and
  • one charge related to commercial fishing.

During the 2020-21 angling season, conservation officers have laid 757 charges, and 149 warnings relating to fisheries related offenses, while issuing restitution orders totalling $25,746.

During the 2020-21 hunting seasons, conservation officers have conducted patrols to enforce Manitoba’s wildlife laws including the new Wildlife Amendment Act (Safe Hunting and Shared Management). From March 3 to March 16 Manitoba conservation officers conducted 37 patrols for illegal moose hunting in closure areas.

On Oct. 10, 2020, the Wildlife Amendment Act (Safe Hunting and Shared Management) took effect with the goal of ensuring a safe hunting environment. Night hunting is now illegal in Manitoba on all private land. The act also allows the establishment of shared management committees, which can be an important tool for improved wildlife conservation, including for moose.

The province has implemented a permit system to allow opportunities for rights-based hunting on some Crown land, with different requirements for northern and southern Manitoba based on extensive Crown-Indigenous consultations that contributed to the development of the legislation.

Anyone with information on illegal activities is asked to call their local Manitoba conservation officer at the district or regional office or the Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076.