GORE BAY—Thanks to the efforts of the Gore Bay Fish and Game Club (GBFGC), a staff member and many students in Charles C. McLean Public School in Gore Bay collaborating on the micro-hatchery program in the school the past few months, well over 100 Chinook salmon fingerlings have been released in the local bay.
“The eggs collected by the fish and game club were very good,” said Richard Panton, a C.C. McLean staff member who was assisted by students in the Grade 6/7 class and other students at the school in raising the fish over the past few months.
“We have a total of 125 fish to plant today,” said Chris Robinson, president of GBFGC, prior to the fish being released at the town swim beach down on the waterfront below the Queen’s Inn. “Richard (Panton) with the assistance of all the students did a bang-up job of raising the fish.”
The healthy fish, which average about four inches in length, were collected by members of GBFGC on October 2 at the Kagawong River. A total of 200 eggs were collected and distributed to C.C. McLean to raise in the micro-hatchery. “The survival rate has been very good this year,” said Mr. Panton.
Mr. Panton said after the school received the fish eggs at the beginning of October, “the eggs hatched out pretty quickly, hatching the first week in November.”
“We had the Grade 6/7 class with teacher Zach Robinson help out,” said Mr. Panton.
“It was a class effort in helping to raise the fish.”
The micro-hatchery is set up in a school hall, so that all the students in the school have the opportunity to see the fish every day as they grow. “The students enjoy watching the fish when they hatch out and as they grow.”
Mr. Robinson told The Expositor, “All the students really enjoy seeing the fish as they grow. My son is in daycare and loves to see the fish every day. And Richard was in our class yesterday (April 3) making a presentation to the students on the program and how important their efforts are in helping to raise the fish and how it is important to stock fish locally.”
