Province In Talks With Partner About Leasing Fish Hatchery

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Ontario Federation Of Anglers And Hunters May Lease Facility

TORONTO — The Ministry of Natural Resources is close to an agreement that would see the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) lease the Ringwood fish hatchery near Stouffville, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.

"I am very pleased that we are able to build on our partnership with the OFAH to provide recreational fishing opportunities into the future," said Ramsay. "The ministry and the OFAH have successfully partnered on many important initiatives, including invasive species, hunter education and Atlantic salmon restoration."

"We are pleased that the Minister is committed to have meaningful dialogue with the OFAH towards conserving our precious fish and wildlife stocks," said OFAH Executive Director Mike Reader. "We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the ministry with respect to the Ringwood hatchery. The goal of the OFAH is to make sure that we do what is right for a diverse and viable fishery, and that we do what is right for Ontario’s angling community. If these two elements are part of the equation, we will ultimately look to enter into an agreement to lease the Ringwood hatchery."

As part of its ongoing program assessment and commitment to fiscal efficiencies, the ministry was planning to take Ringwood out of production and consolidate production in the remaining nine hatcheries.

The OFAH is building on its long-standing partnership with the government. The OFAH also led the successful launch of the Atlantic Salmon Restoration Project. The funding support garnered for the Atlantic salmon project is critical to the Normandale hatchery continuing its important fish culture programs, including the rearing of Atlantic salmon and chinook salmon production for Lake Ontario.

Developing partnerships in fish production is just one way the McGuinty government is helping protect our natural environment. Other initiatives include:

Launching Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy to engage Ontarians in the protection of a wide variety of plant and animal life.

Preserving 1.8 million acres of green space by creating the Greenbelt across the Golden Horseshoe.

Providing new incentives for private landowners to protect and restore significant natural heritage features on their land.

The ministry remains committed to fish hatchery programs and yesterday announced a $13.2 million investment in the Dorion Fish Culture Station near Thunder Bay.

The Ministry of Natural Resources will produce an average of seven million fish for stocking the Great Lakes and inland waters next year.