The 12th Annual Free Family Fishing Weekend is held June 17th to 19th and allows families to fish for free in freshwater lakes and non-tidal streams anywhere in B.C. With 47 different events planned in communities across the province, families have a unique opportunity to learn how to fish and explore our beautiful recreation sites. One example is the new Roberts Lake facility, near Campbell River, which has been designed to be wheelchair accessible so that more visitors can experience the outdoors and participate in angling opportunities.

These events are supported by the Family Fishing Weekend Society, which provides financial assistance, materials and guidance to the many volunteer groups who help make this annual angling weekend possible. The Freshwater Fisheries Society helps stock fish into B.C.'s hundreds of lakes and streams. The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation has also contributed funding to support the event.

Quick Facts:

• An estimated 25,000 people take advantage of the Free Family Fishing Weekend.
• Freshwater anglers spend $480 million every year on equipment, travel and accommodation and hospitality services supporting 7,500 direct jobs.
• There are recreation sites on or near 800 stocked lakes that that support a diversity of angling opportunities.
• The Family Fishing Society of BC is managed by the angling community and was incorporated as a non-profit society in 2002.
• The Freshwater Fisheries Society helps stock more than 8 million fish into 900 lakes and streams each year.
• Since 2005, the provincial government has invested more than $26 million to maintain and rehabilitate B.C.'s recreation sites and trails system.

Learn More:

For more details and a list of communities where family fishing events are being held, visit: www.bcfamilyfishing.com

Visit the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC online at: www.gofishbc.com

For more information about fishing opportunities in B.C., visit: www.discoverfishingbc.ca

For information on fishing licences, visit: www.fishing.gov.bc.ca

For more information about the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, visit: www.hctf.ca

Media contact:

Cheekwan Ho
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261