Good Evening Minister Smith, 

I would like to provide some input and ask some questions in reference to recent information regarding upcoming changes to the recreational fishery in Nova Scotia for 2025. Please see the attached screen-shot, this was posted to the Facebook page of a local fishing organization. 

As detailed in the attached, a new requirement for all anglers in Nova Scotia for 2025 will be mandatory retention of any chain pickerel in the province, and mandatory retention of any smallmouth bass in the areas identified, notably the West Branch Lahave River and all areas east of Highway 102. 

The above requirement is as drastic a change to the recreational fishery in Nova Scotia as I have ever seen. As an angler, a licenced fishing guide, and a conservationist in Nova Scotia, I can see  the benefits of this effort with respect to minimizing the spread of smallmouth bass and  chain pickerel to watersheds outside of their current range. I am actually in support of the mandatory retention of both of these species east of highway 102, and hope that this new mandate will both curb the illegal introductions of smallmouth bass and pickerel, as well as limit the damage done by both species in watersheds east of highway 102 where trout and other native species still thrive. 

However, West of Highway 102 is a different story: in these areas the smallmouth bass and chain pickerel are established species, already having pushed trout and other native species from their original ranges. In their place, we now have healthy and viable fisheries throughout the western end of the province for both smallmouth and pickerel, in many areas where trout populations were long ago diminished due to overfishing, water quality, and other environmental issues. The current mandate will require mandatory retention of chain pickerel only in these areas, currently smallmouth are not included for mandatory retention in the western end of the province. 

Minister Smith, I am an avid angler, and a relatively new but very motivated guide in this province that spends a lot of time targeting and enjoying both the smallmouth bass and the chain pickerel fisheries. I am as involved as I can possibly be with Inland Fisheries, Fish Nova Scotia, and a variety of angling organizations throughout the province to promote our fisheries, to promote an active lifestyle, and to promote the benefits of time outdoors. I am concerned about the state of our fisheries and what the future holds for both the native trout populations, but also the very well established and very popular smallmouth bass fishery. Over the past year there have been significant efforts by the Atlantic Salmon lobby to drastically reduce the striped bass population in the Northumberland Strait in a misguided attempt to improve the atlantic salmon fishery. I fear these current efforts for mandatory retention of smallmouth bass and chain pickerel are further haphazard efforts of the Atlantic Salmon lobby to negatively affect those fisheries that do not peacefully co-exist with the Atlantic Salmon that generate substantial money for a select few that are in the business of promoting salmon fishing. The smallmouth bass and to a lesser extent the chain pickerel anglers in this province invest countless dollars into fishing licences, boats, fishing equipment, bait, gas, lodging, and other expenses in pursuit of both smallmouth bass and chain pickerel throughout the province. Reducing and potentially eliminating these fisheries from Nova Scotia will not on its own restore trout and salmon populations to those areas where they don’t currently thrive and would detrimentally affect those of us that are spending time and money targeting smallmouth bass and pickerel throughout the province. Understanding that currently the western end of the province does not have a requirement for mandatory retention of smallmouth, I want to make it clear that I would not be in support of this effort in any way, shape, or form if it is proposed by any of the existing lobby groups. 

I will repeat that  I am in support of efforts to curb the illegal spread of smallmouth bass and chain pickerel to additional areas of the province. However, the mandatory retention of smallmouth in the eastern portion of the province and chain pickerel province-wide is a massive change to how freshwater fisheries are being managed in Nova Scotia. As such, I have a few questions and comments with regard to this new initiative:  

1: Is there any science to support that the mandatory retention of pickerel and smallmouth will provide benefits to Nova Scotia Anglers, both short term and long term? 

2: Why has the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries not provided information of these changes to the anglers of Nova Scotia through either the yearly Recreational Fishery Advisory Councils (Last held December 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2024) or the “Proposed Regulations Changes” section of the 2024 Anglers Handbook? 

3: What are the proposed fines or penalties for anglers not complying with the regulations? 

4: Are there any intentions to expand the mandatory retention zones for Smallmouth? 

5: What is the long term goal of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries with respect to the Nova Scotia freshwater fisheries? 

Once again, I am in support of the protection of existing native fisheries throughout the province. I am not in support of efforts to eliminate established fish populations (both native like the striped bass, or non-native like the smallmouth bass) without significant support from the scientific community and future planning to support a long term benefit to the Nova Scotia inland fisheries, and to Nova Scotia anglers. 

I appreciate your attention to this matter, and would be happy to discuss further at the contact information below. 

Thank you, 

Ryan Anderson. 

School of Fish Guide Service. 

Truro, Nova Scotia. 

sofguideservice.ca