Governor Perdue Announces Sites for Go Fish Georgia facilities

As the Georgia Department of Natural Resources begins implementation of the Go Fish Georgia program, Governor Sonny Perdue today announced the locations for the Go Fish Georgia Center and Hatchery and the ten sites across the state for mega-ramps to be built on lakes and rivers.

Governor Perdue joined a number of local officials from Perry and Houston County to announce the Go Fish Georgia Center will be built on 120 acres located on the south side of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. This facility will include a visitor's center that will market and promote fishing opportunities throughout the state, an on-site public fishing lake and a fully functioning warm water hatchery.

The 10 mega-ramp sites announced today are part of a 15-site bass fishing trail that will include large ramps capable of accommodating large fishing tournaments. Eight of the sites will receive Go Fish Georgia funds to match local financial and in-kind contributions for construction. The other two sites will be built on Lake Hartwell using funds from the PCB contamination settlement stemming from chemical releases upstream by a South Carolina plant that eventually flowed down into the lake.

Fishing contributes approximately $1.5 billion to Georgia's economy each year. DNR estimates more than 10,000 jobs in Georgia are related to sport fishing, which generates $15 million in state income taxes, and

19 million in state sales taxes.

major bass fishing tournament can have as much as a $5 million economic impact on a local community. A championship event can have a $27 million economic impact.

For more information on fishing in Georgia or the Go Fish Georgia initiative, please go to www.gofishgeorgia.com.