GORE BAY—Grade 4-5 students at Charles C. McLean Public School in Gore Bay completed a very successful micro-hatchery fish raising project involving the Gore Bay Fish and Game Club (GBFGC) by releasing very healthy Chinook salmon in the waters of Gore Bay last week.
“This is a great program and I would encourage any school to get involved with a micro-hatchery program,” stated Heather Jefkins, Grade 4-5 teacher. “The Gore Bay Fish and Game Club provided us with a lot of support throughout the process. My students gained a lot of first-hand experience with raising fish, as well as looking at information related to fish biology and sport fishing.”
“There were a lot of curriculum connections in science through the project, particularly related to habitat, and the process of maintaining water quality through regular testing and tank maintenance,” said Ms. Jefkins.
Ches Witty, manager of the Gore Bay Fish Hatchery and a member of GBFGC, told the Recorder, “everything went very well. On the day they stocked their fish we welcomed them and provided the students a tour of the hatchery.”
“I definitely think this is a really good program and the fish that the students had raised were in really good shape,” said Mr. Witty. “It was really enjoyable to participate with the students in this project.”
The fish were released in Gore Bay waters on Wednesday, April 13, having originally arrived in the classroom on December 31, 2015. A total of 35 fish were released. Ms. Jefkins reported that in terms of fish mortality, “we only lost four fish out of the original 39 from December 31-April 13.”
A total of 20 students in Grade 4-5 took part in the program.
“Working with the students and teachers was really enjoyable and is part of our junior education focus program that we want to see keep going and expand on,” said Mr. Witty.
Ms. Jefkins added, “we are really looking forward to getting a new batch of Chinook (salmon) for the next school year. I believe we may have a chance to raise them right from eggs next fall, which would be very exciting.”
