WINNIPEG – Get out and enjoy the provinces annual Free Family Fishing Weekend.

The free family fishing weekend is today and tomorrow. Anglers will not need a licence, but they are asked to be responsible in disposing of waste, in particular, fishing lines, Minister Rochelle Squires said in a release.

“Manitobans are hooked on fishing, and so are the tourists who are lured to visit our beautiful lakes and rivers, generating more than $200 million in direct and indirect impact to the economy,” said Squires. “That’s a lot of lines in the water, and we want to remind and encourage all anglers to respect the beauty of our natural areas by safely placing trash and fishing line in proper receptacles.”

This year, the province has partnered with TransCanada and the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre to set up specially designed containment units for people to dispose of used fishing line at popular angling locations, such as Lockport. Monofilament fishing line can be detrimental to birds, fish and other wildlife if left on shore and in the water. Even in a landfill, it can still be picked up or scattered by birds, so the Clear Your Gear program ensures fishing line gets properly recycled.

“As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship, we work to minimize our environmental footprint as we strive to meet the energy needs of North Americans,” said Carla Morris, director, Canada Gas Operations, TransCanada. “We work closely with the communities where we live and work to ensure the environmental initiatives we’re supporting – whether financially or through volunteer efforts – are the ones that matter the most to them.”

“We have seen many fatal monofilament line injuries to birds in recent years and are excited see a project that will work to illuminate this problem,” said Zoe Nakata, executive director, Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre. “We are a proud partner in this project, working to ensure the safety and well-being of all wildlife in our province.”