(Alabama, NY) -- To celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is hosting its 17th Annual Youth Fishing Derby, on Saturday, June 7. Fishing is from 8 am to 12 noon at Ringneck Marsh, off Oak Orchard Ridge Road. The free event is open to youths 17 years old and under, no experience necessary. At the activities tent you can learn about fish anatomy â€" explore fish features inside and out that help them to survive and see how different (and how similar) you are to a fish. A casting contest, an awards ceremony, and door prizes will round out a fun day of fishing.

On-site registration starts at 7:30 am. There is no pre-registration nor reservations required. Just show up, sign up, and pick up your free fishing grab bag (while supplies last). Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish caught in three age categories: 6 years and under, 7-12 and 13-17 years. Bring your own tackle and a lunch. If this is your first time, some bait and fishing gear will be available to borrow. A complete list of derby rules is available on our website: http://iroquoisnwr.fws.gov or by calling 585/948-5445.

The Fishing Derby is sponsored by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc.

National Fishing and Boating Weekâ€^TMs mission is to raise awareness of the opportunities, benefits, and values associated with boating and fishing participation and stewardship of our aquatic resources. National Fishing and Boating Week is administered by the Recreational Boating and Fishing. For more information on the national celebration contact the National Fishing Week website at: www.nationalfishingandboatingweek.org.
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For further information contact: Iroquois NWR, 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 or call (585) 948-5445.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

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