The VOICE of Anglers and Hunters since 1928

Atlantic salmon return to historic Duffins Creek

OFAH File: 842/420S
May 8, 2006

For Immediate Release

Atlantic salmon return to historic Duffins Creek
TRCA hosts fish stocking and media day – May 10

Nearly 110 years after Lake Ontario’s original salmon were declared extirpated, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is hosting the province’s first large-scale stocking of Atlantic salmon in the historic Duffins Creek. The media event featuring special guest speakers, fish stocking and great photo opportunities, will be held Wednesday, May 10, starting at 10:00 am, at the Claremont Field Centre just off Westney Road north of Pickering.

For two days, starting May 10, over 60,000 Atlantic salmon will be released in Duffins Creek with assistance provided from biologists, elementary school students, politicians and Australia’s Tony Sharley, an internationally-renowned expert on wetland restoration. Mr. Sharely is the manager of Australia’s Banrock Station.

It’s all part of a massive five-year Atlantic Salmon Restoration Project that was officially unveiled on April 27 by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and its conservation partners, including Banrock Station Wetland Foundation Canada, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (L.C.B.O.), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association.

“The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is proud to be involved in the restoration of Lake Ontario Atlantic salmon, the most significant freshwater restoration project in North America. This history making project will restore an important part of our ecosystem, and in doing so, will inspire more hands-on efforts to improve the health of Duffins Creek and several other local streams,” said Brian Denney, CAO, TRCA.

Dr. Terry Quinney, O.F.A.H. Provincial Manager of Fish and Wildlife Services, said that dreams of restoring Lake Ontario’s lost treasure would not have been possible without the hard of work of Conservation Authorities, such as the TRCA, and years of Atlantic salmon research conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

“This is not just another fish stocking project – it’s a major conservation effort that will require thousands of hours of local stream restoration. We are pleased to work with the TRCA because their hard work has helped enhance and protect Duffins Creek and laid the ground work for the future of Atlantic salmon,” said Dr. Quinney.

For more information, visit www.atlanticsalmonontario.ca.

– 30 –

Contact

Robert J. Pye
Communications Coordinator
(705) 748-6324 ext. 267

Deanne Rodrigue
TRCA Marketing & Communications Manager
(416) 661-6600 ext. 5359
Download the PDF version of this release ( PDF, 35 KB )


Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!