Atlantic salmon are coming home to Bronte Creek

Area youth part of significant Lake Ontario environmental restoration effort.

Thursday May 6th, an exciting environmental and educational initiative happened on the Bronte Creek, thanks to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and
Hunters (O.F.A.H.), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Pioneer
Petroleums and many other partners. Classroom hatchery-raised Atlantic
salmon were released into Bronte Creek at 11:00 a.m. at Lowville Park, in
the Village of Lowville.

“More than a century after Atlantic salmon were declared locally extinct
from the waters of Lake Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and
Hunters and our partners are pleased to be here on the banks of Bronte
Creek with 180 elementary school students, as we take part in this historic
effort to bring back the salmon,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive
Director.

Since its launch in 2006, the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration
Program (Bring Back the Salmon) has stocked almost two million Atlantic
salmon in Duffins Creek, Cobourg Brook and the Credit River, tributaries of
Lake Ontario. Thousands of volunteer hours have been dedicated to assisting
in this ambitious effort that includes research and monitoring, habitat
improvement, and education and outreach. McMaster University’s Let’s Talk
Science graduate students have mentored several classroom hatcheries in the
Hamilton area and will be on hand to help the students release their fish
into the creek.

Pioneer Petroleums is committed to supporting the Lake Ontario Atlantic
Salmon Restoration Program by hosting environmental education field trips.
Participating classes and outdoor education centres are able to take
outdoor excursions to learn more about Atlantic salmon habitat and to
release their classroom-raised Atlantic salmon in targeted tributaries.

“Pioneer believes that it is our corporate responsibility to support local
environmental action,” said Tim Hogarth, CEO, Pioneer Petroleums. “We are
proud to be a part of the Bring Back the Salmon program that engages young
people in making a positive difference to the waterways in their
community.”

Stocking the Bronte Creek with classroom hatchery-raised Atlantic salmon
is part of an internationally acclaimed endeavor that was spearheaded by
the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources, with support from over 40 conservation partners,
including the Banrock Station Wetland Foundation Canada, LCBO Natural
Heritage Fund, Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, Fish For Ever
Foundation, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Helping with the Bronte Creek
event are McMaster University Let’s Talk Science graduate student
volunteers, Community Stream Steward Program, Trout Unlimited Canada,
Oakville and District Rod and Gun Club and Conservation Halton. For more
information, visit www.bringbackthesalmon.ca.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 670 member
clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest nonprofit, conservation-based
organization in Ontario. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.