The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) has partnered with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to deliver the new Community Hatchery Program (CHP). The MNR will provide $250,000 annually over a three-year agreement for OFAH to deliver the CHP. The CHP will offer a more targeted approach to funding and technical support for Ontario’s community hatcheries.In Ontario, fish production for stocking purposes occurs at nine MNR hatcheries and many community-based fish hatcheries throughout the province. For decades, community hatcheries have enabled members of the public to actively participate in fish culture projects that stock millions of fish annually and provide direct benefits to Ontario’s fishery resources. In the past, the MNR’s Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program (CFWIP) has offered funding to community fish culture and stocking projects. The CHP will use the funds typically allocated to community fish hatcheries through CFWIP to provide a new delivery process and support system specifically for community fish culture and stocking projects. The remaining annual CFWIP funding ($300,000) will be offered through another new program, the Land Stewardship & Habitat Restoration Program (LSHRP), which will be administered by the MNR. Collectively, the new CHP and LSHRP will replace CFWIP as the government funding sources for community-based fish and wildlife projects in Ontario.In addition to allocating funding, the new CHP will work directly with community hatcheries to provide better support and guidance for the successful rearing and stocking of fish. This will include assistance with obtaining the required permits, as well as support during the planning and operation of community hatcheries. The MNR will continue to be responsible for setting stocking targets, reviewing and issuing permits and licenses, providing eggs and fry, as well as brood stock and fish stocking locations.”Fish stocking and community involvement are two incredibly important components of successful fisheries management in Ontario. Through the CHP, we have an opportunity to strengthen the community hatchery program in Ontario,” said OFAH Executive Director Angelo Lombardo. “The OFAH has numerous long-standing and successful partnerships with the MNR, including the Ontario Hunter Education Program and the Invading Species Awareness Program. This new partnership will not only provide greater certainty and support for Ontario’s community hatcheries themselves, but will also provide enormous ecological, social and economic benefits by helping to improve our fisheries.”
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is Ontario’s largest, nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, representing 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 710 member clubs. To learn more, visitofah.org.
Media Contacts:
Dr. Terry Quinney
Provincial Manager of Fish & Wildlife Services
705-748-6324 ext 242 terry_quinney@ofah.org
Matt DeMille
Assistant Manager of Fish & Wildlife Services/Fisheries Biologist
705-748-6324 ext. 249 matt_demille@ofah.org
As an avid lifelong angler and hunter, Peter’s outdoor knowledge and experiences keep expanding through his hundreds of hours of hunting and fishing podcast interviews with like minded experts. He has received numerous national writing awards. With thousands of outdoor pictures on Ripple Outdoors and many full-length articles with outdoor magazine and video clips you might say that he not only enjoys his outdoor lifestyle, but he’s quite the fanatic! In 2015 he earned fifth overall on the King of the Wood Contest hosted by Canada In The Rough team, pretty good for a baby boomer deer hunter. His buck was also one of the top bucks taken that season. Through Peter’s deer hunting seminars or by attending outdoor trade shows, like the Toronto Sportsmen Show and The SWOC Big Buck Show, he has connected with thousands of like minded people that love hunting and fishing. As a volunteer or member of local and national outdoor groups like QDMA, SWOC, Outdoor Writers of Canada, Archery Trade Show Association he continues to learn and hone his craft. Read his many articles, listen to his podcasts and rifle through thousands of photos on Ripple Outdoors. Discover Peter’s latest posts about outdoor gear, destinations, how to articles and interviews and you’ll be a better angler and hunter for the experience.
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