Belfountain students release Atlantic salmon raised in their classroom hatchery

OFAH FILE: 842/420S
May 14, 2007

For Immediate Release

Belfountain students release Atlantic salmon raised in their classroom hatchery

Tomorrow, grade six students from Belfountain Public School will say “bon voyage” to a school of Atlantic salmon fry raised in their very own classroom fish hatchery. Students, teachers and local dignitaries will join the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) and its conservation partners in stocking over 50,000 fish in the Credit River. The media are invited for this hands-on conservation project.

“For the past five months, students from across the province have been learning about conservation history and environmental science as they have helped raised Atlantic salmon in classroom hatchery systems provided, free of charge, courtesy of the Belfountain Community Hatchery. Education is an important part of the Lake Ontario Salmon Restoration Program and the O.F.A.H. and its partners are delighted see so many enthusiastic young conservationists taking part in our Atlantic salmon stocking events,” said Chris Robinson, O.F.A.H. Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program Coordinator.

Stocking the Credit River with Atlantic salmon is all part of a history-making conservation endeavor that was officially unveiled last year by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and its conservation partners, including Banrock Station Wetland Foundation Canada, LCBO, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Canadian Sport Fishing Industry Association. Other project partners include Trees Ontario, Fishing Forever Foundation, WFN: World Fishing Network, Ontario Wildlife Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canadian Wildlife Federation, and Fleming College.

For more information, visit www.bringbackthesalmon.ca

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