Iqaluit (June 30/03) - A sign planted in the ground near the entrance of Sylvia Grinnell Park confirms that fishing restrictions along the river in Iqaluit will continue this summer.

Effective August 23, 2002 a portion on the river was closed indefinitely to snagging and gill netting. Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials and the Amarok Hunters and Trappers Association expect the restriction will last at least another four years.

"We've put up posters and we will also be doing some patrols of the area with DFO," said David Ell, Chair of the HTA.

Ell said the closure is a result of conservation and habitat issues.

The size of char in the river has been steadily decreasing over the years, according to traditional knowledge from fishers. The only scientific information related to fish size in the Sylvia Grinnell River is from a study completed in 1993. No new scientific information was used last year when the decision to restrict fishing was put in place.

Ell said he has not received any complaints from beneficiaries about the fish management plan.

Cecilia Erkidjuk has been fishing on the Sylvia Grinnell River for more than 27 years.

"The fish are getting bigger since they stopped snagging and gill netting. It really helped already in that little time. Either the fish are getting better or I'm getting better," she said.

Erkidjuk also said the restrictions are only applied to certain parts of the river, so people who don't want to fish with a rod can go elsewhere. The area under the new restrictions is in the vicinity of the falls.

Joe Hess, another Iqaluit resident who has gone out to the river for the last 25 years, agrees with Erkidjuk and supports the restrictions.

"I think it's good because everybody goes fishing out there and eventually it's going to deplete the stock," he said.