Minister Ramsay must confirm the future for Chinook salmon stocking

OFAH File: 842
April 11, 2006

For Immediate Release

Minister Ramsay must confirm the future for Chinook salmon stocking

The push for Atlantics story that appeared in the April issue of Ontario OUT OF DOORS Magazine has the angling community, including the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, legitimately concerned about comments attributed to Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay. The Minister was quoted as suggesting that the end is in sight for the future of stocking pacific salmon.

However, senior MNR staff say that the Minister was misunderstood and that his comments were taken out of context. The O.F.A.H. offered the Minister a chance for clarification and we are still waiting for his response.

“We want to give the Minister an opportunity to clarify his remarks. The O.F.A.H. is looking forward to a successful Atlantic Salmon program, however, we would never have supported this new project if we thought for a minute that the stocking of Chinook salmon would be in any way sacrificed,” said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader.

The O.F.A.H. feels that Ontario’s pacific salmon have become a vital part of our recreational fishery and that the government and the O.F.A.H. must be doing everything it can to support it.

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