Tory joins students in stocking salmon in Credit

MPP John Tory and Sylvia Jones joined Ashgrove Public School students Friday morning, releasing salmon into the Credit River at Belfountain Conservation Area. It's part of a comprehensive Atlantic salmon stocking program.

Leader of the Opposition and Caledon MPP John Tory joined students of Ashgrove Public School in releasing salmon fry into the Credit River at Belfountain Conservation Area Friday morning.

Tory gave some brief remarks to a few classes of students, talking about the importance of being involved and interested in the environment. The classes then went to the Credit River, where they released the salmon. It all took place as part of the Credit River Anglers Association's Atlantic Salmon Stocking Event.

The Credit River Anglers Association is a group of concerned anglers and conservationists who are united in the common goal of improving the fishery that exists in the Credit River. They're a realized dream of a bunch of hard working people who care about our environment and improved angling opportunities. As they enter their 10th year, we have had some major successes, but there is still much for them to do. CRAA is actively working to fulfill its mandate to improve fishing in the Credit River. They work with all levels of government, the MNR, CVC and residents to achieve their goals.

In order to re-establish self-sustaining populations of Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario and its tributaries, a large number of Atlantic salmon must be stocked into the selected streams to form the basis of the recovering population. For 2006, the MNR committed to doubling their production to 400,000 fry. They have also agreed to increase the size of their broodstock to make more eggs available in 2007. Currently, the MNR has one type of broodstock from a genetic strain of Atlantic salmon called the LaHave strain. To maximize success, given the changes to the Lake Ontario ecosystem, they will be developing and maintaining two additional broodstock populations of different genetic strains.

Workshops will be conducted to educate community conservation clubs on fish culture practices. The overall goal is to restore self-sustaining populations of Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario and its tributaries in the next 10 to 15 years.