TAFIP was founded in 1985, after much discussion amongst the fishing and tourist community in this area, as a non-profit organization to help maintain a good walleye (pickerel) fish population in the local lakes of the Temagami area. A fish hatchery building was constructed on the waterfront in the town of Temagami. It is complete with all the necessary equipment and supplies, office space, along with four new rearing ponds located in the vicinity of the town of Temagami.

The program itself is sponsored by funds raised through annual membership fees, donations and other fund raising activities of our volunteers. Various local businesses and other organizations provide small grants and/or material in kind to assist us, which is greatly appreciated - these include the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Corporation of the Township of Temagami, Temagami Lakes Association (TLA), Cassells and Adjoining Lakes Association (CALA), O.F.A.H. Zone C & D, Haileybury Hunt Club, and Human Resources & Development Canada (HRDC).

Since the beginning the fish hatchery has been in operation every year, It has the capacity to incubate 3 million fish eggs ; however our assigned quota from the M.N.R is 2.5 million fish eggs each year. incubation time at the hatchery building is approximately 14 - 21 days, then our fry are transported from the hatchery tanks to the four outdoor rearing ponds. When many of the fry have become larger ( often referred to as "fingerlings" ) we distribute both fry and fingerlings to area lakes as per MNR biologist instructions, with 10% of the fingerlins distributed to the donor site. Most of this work starts at the beginning of May of each year after ice break-up and runs through to mid-August.

TAFIP also conducts educational tours for school children and tourists during our operational summer months. During this time we have one full time person, and up to two students ( high school age ) who are hired for the summer through the assistance of the Federal Government HRDC funding, if available.

TAFIP is a volunteer organization with an executive composed of a President, Vice-President, Recording-Secretary, Financial Secretary, and 10 Directors. An additional number of volunteers are on stand-by and prepared to help at any time in the many tasks involved in the raising of walleye.

TAFIP meetings are held on the third wednesday of the month (7:00 p.m.) beginning in March, and in the months of April through to the November year-end meeting and election for directors (except for October - hunting season).

In addition to the main work of the fish hatchery, TAFIP is very involved in related community activities in the Temagami area, both with a educational and fund - raising focus. These events are : the Ling Fling (last Saturday of March Break each year ; exception in 2008 - March 22nd) ; a BBQ on the Sunday of Canada Day Weekend - July 1st and a Children's Fishing Derby at dockside in Temagami on the Sunday of Civic Holiday weekend in August ; and other occasions (on request) we are pleased to set up an information booth with refreshments/BBQ in coordination with Fishing Tournaments, such as the 2007 Temagami Bass Tournament.