PETERBOROUGH—The renewal of funding for the Community Hatchery Program (CHP) is great news for fishing in Ontario.
Another three-year partnership is underway between the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to support Ontario’s community fish hatcheries.
Volunteer-operated hatcheries not only stock millions of fish annually across the province, they serve as community education centres that promote good fisheries management and conservation.
Each year, more than 900 volunteers donate nearly 60,000 hours of their time at community fish hatcheries across the province. In 2015, the CHP provided funding and technical support to 41 community hatcheries, which raised public fish for public waters in Ontario. These stocked fish contribute to rehabilitation, they help conserve local genetic strains and create additional fishing opportunities for Ontario anglers.
