More than 4,700 people have signed a petition asking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to include fishing guides and charter boat captains among businesses that can operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AliceKae Wiese of Wheezy Outdoors, a hunting and fishing guide service in Remer, Minn., launched the petition last week on the change.org website after Walz issued new stay-at-home orders that didn’t include guides or charter boat captains among the businesses that were allowed to reopen.
Minnesota’s fishing opener is Saturday, May 9, and Walz’s latest order is in effect until May 18.
“A majority of Greater Minnesota's economy relies on proceeds from visitors and tourism to the area,” the website states. “Certain businesses, which are taking an enormous hit right now and are seemingly overlooked during this pandemic, would include a great number of operating guide services and licensed captains who are still facing lockdown.”
Minnesota’s Executive Order 20-38 allows people to be outdoors, engaging in activities such as walking, running, fishing and hunting but also includes several recommendations urging outdoors enthusiasts to:
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Stay close to home.
Not congregate when outdoors.
Follow social distancing guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Remain home if they are ill or exhibiting any symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
The Department of Natural Resources also offered these social distancing guidelines as the Minnesota fishing opener approaches:
Only boat with people in your immediate household.
Do not invite guests or anyone outside your household onto your boat.
Do not go boating if someone in your group is feeling sick or may have been exposed to someone who is sick.
When launching your boat, keep a safe distance of at least 6 feet from others.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 4,700 people had signed the guide and charter boat petition; the goal is 5,000 signatures.
The petition can be found
here
.
