GORE BAY—An announcement by Bill Thornton, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), that the community hatchery program funding is being extended is good news for the Gore Bay fish hatchery and others in the area.
“Yes, this is certainly good news,” stated Chris Robinson, president of the Gore Bay Fish and Game Club on Monday.
Shawn Cayley of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) explained to the Recorder on Monday that at the OFAH annual conference held this past weekend, Minister Thornton announced that the, “community hatchery program will be extended for three years. He made the announcement that the province is extending the partnership between the MNRF and the OFAH for three years.”
“For the past three years the MNRF has partnered with and had the OFAH distribute the funding under this program,” said Mr. Robinson. “The past three-year partnership was up and the ministry is renewing the community hatchery program funding program another three years; and that includes us (GBFGC).” He pointed out that before, the MNRF-OFAH partnership funding for this program was handed out directly by the ministry.
“This partnership and funding program is critical to our club and hatchery; it’s a good chunk of what we are doing,” continued Mr. Robinson.
Matt Smith of the OFAH told the Recorder, “any hatchery can apply for this program funding. And on Manitoulin Island funding is provided to the Gore Bay Fish and Game Club for the hatchery there, the Little Current Fish and Game Club, and to the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin for its net-pen project on Lake Kagawong.”
In making his announcement at the OFAH conference, Mr. Thornton said the MNRF is proud of its partnership with the OFAH on the community hatchery program, that helps to strengthen fish hatchery operations. The program supports local operations throughout the province with hatcheries as far east as Westport and as far west as Atikokan.
Mr. Thornton pointed out 41 community hatcheries have been funded by the program each year between 2013-2016. These hatcheries are supported by over 900 dedicated volunteers committing about 70,000 volunteer hours every year. They stock millions of fish into public waters every year.
Community hatcheries rear nine different species at various life stages to support fish stocking goals which include rehabilitating native species populations, maintaining or enhancing angling opportunities through put-grow-take fish stocking, and preserving rare fish genetics.
Community hatcheries not only stock fish into public waters but they also serve as learning centres, with many operating interpretive centres and partnering with schools to support education of Ontario fisheries management, Minister Thornton told the gathering.
This program is a good example of the progress the MNRF can make when it collaborates and draws from the ministry, OFAH and fish and game clubs collective expertise and knowledge, said Minister Thornton. “That’s why it gives me great pleasure to announce that the ministry and OFAH are renewing this agreement for a further three years.”‘
