In order to "dispel rumors" about changes to the Fisheries Act the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield spoke to a small contingent of people in Pitt Meadows Monday afternoon.

Ashfield said the federal government will make the transformations necessary to sustain economic growth, job creation, and prosperity, for now and for the next generation.

"We are not immune to the global economic uncertainty that threatens every country in the world. However, every country in the world has a choice to make: whether to create the conditions for growth and prosperity, or to risk long-term economic decline," Ashfield said.

The government intends to focus its efforts on recreational, commercial, and Aboriginal fisheries, while drawing a distinction between vital waterways and unproductive bodies of water.

The Act will also identify and manage threats, including habitat destruction, invasive species, and impacts to fish.

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