Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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Saskatchewan’s newly introduced angling habitat certificate will help support the Saskatchewan Fish Hatchery, the only aquaculture facility in the province producing and stocking millions of fish into public waters.
Beginning with the 2026-27 angling season, anglers will be required to purchase a $20 Angling Habitat Certificate, while one and three-day licences will require a $5 certificate.
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Situated at Echo Lake near Fort Qu’Appelle, the fish hatchery was opened in 1915 and supports sustainable sport fishing and healthy fish populations.
In addition to addressing rehabilitation and modernization of hatchery infrastructure, revenue from the habitat certificate will provide long-term funding for hatchery operations as well as other priority programming, including habitat enhancement and restoration and the Aquatic Invasive Species prevention program.
The hatchery is open to the public for free tours from 9 a.m.to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week until Labour Day.
“With the introduction of the habitat certificate, we are strengthening our commitment to conservation and ensuring the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund can continue to fund priority programs benefitting anglers for generations to come,” Environment Minister Darlene Rowden said in a news release.
Each year, the Ministry of Environment develops stocking plans that determine how many fish are stocked and where.
In 2025, nearly 6.4 million fish were stocked into 96 water bodies throughout the province. These included more than 5.9 million walleye, along with a variety of trout species such as rainbow, brook, brown, tiger and splake, the release said.
Hatchery staff use specialized facilities to oversee the full fish life cycle, from collecting and fertilizing eggs to rearing fish and releasing them.
The hatchery is administered by the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, with operating costs funded entirely through the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, supported by revenues from hunting, angling and trapping licences.
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