An expansion of Ministry of Natural Resources fish hatcheries will add largemouth bass to the program for the first time as part of a $75 million investment that will update three hatcheries.
In the past, the province has raised Atlantic salmon, aurora trout, bluegill, brook trout, brown trout, splake, lake trout, lake whitefish, rainbow trout, walleye, chinook salmon, and bloater (an important native prey fish species that was eliminated from Lake Ontario in the last century) in its hatcheries.
Big improvements will come to the North Bay Fish Culture Station, which focuses on trout species, through a rebuild of the main station, upgrading of water supply and piping and modernization of rearing buildings. A new walleye building will be built at the Blue Jay Creek Fish Culture Station on Manitoulin Island, allowing more walleye to be produced with modern techniques. Upgrades to the Hill’s Lake Fish Culture Station, near Englehart, include new rearing areas and visitor’s centre. This station focuses on trout species and houses a large number of brood stock for the province’s programs. Largemouth bass will be added to the fish produced at the White Lake Fish Culture Station in Sharbot Lake.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) is pleased with the investment.
“Stocking is an important fisheries management tool that can provide diverse angling opportunities, help rehabilitate depleted stocks, and divert angling effort away from more sensitive fisheries,” OFAH Fisheries Biologist Adam Weir said. “But to get the most out of these important infrastructure upgrades, we will be asking the government to evaluate the performance of its entire stocking program and establish stocking strategies for all Fisheries Management Zones to ensure optimal enhancements to our fisheries and the angler experience.”
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