As we
enter 2012 it is as important as ever that we have a large and active
membership. The challenges facing our Association and
the salmon populations on the Southern Uplands of Nova Scotia are the same as in
previous years. These challenges require our upmost attention. With the designation of Nova Scotia
rivers as endangered, this places due diligence on our Association as well as
the Nova Scotia Salmon Association and the Atlantic Salmon Federation to work
with Government and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to find solutions to the
dwindling populations in our rivers.
The
problems are not foreign to the experts. We have been told since April 2007 that
mortality at sea is the primary issue facing east coast salmon populations. Some
of the experts (DFO) have whispered seals as the main problem. Yes, 6 or 7
million seals in the Atlantic Ocean can and will have an impact, as will
predation in the river systems by cormorants, mergansers, invasive species and
humans. Illegal introductions of Small Mouth Bass and Chain Pickerel continue to
plague lake and river systems in Nova Scotia.
We are
trying to do our part. In 2011 the Medway River Salmon Association adopted the
following projects to work towards funding and watershed improvement:
Ø Hosted a successful
‘Annual Dinner and Auction’,
Ø Received grants from NSSA ($2,000) and Reg. of Queens
($1,500),
Ø Received approval for funding a specific project – when the project is
complete funding will be forthcoming from the NS Fisheries & Aquaculture,
Sportfish Habitat Fund ($10,000),
Ø Continued with the Fish Friends Program in Mill Village,
Caledonia and Greenfield schools,
Ø Organized membership to monitor parts of Medway River for
impurities,
Ø Participated, along with DFO and Queens Co. Fish and Game,
in releasing salmon into the Medway River ,
Ø Dispersed lime along the river bank on River Road near
Ponhook lodge,
Ø Installed lime tumblers in designated brooks that feed into
Medway River,
Ø Dispersed lime at the Twin Bridge site,
Ø Attended various meeting important to the Assoc., ie
Recreational Fishery Advisory Council ; 12% by 2015 in NS; RBC Blue Water
Funding; DFO, Mersey Biodiversity Facality to name a few,
Ø Worked in conjunction with NSCC Env. Tech. Class and McGowan
Fish Hatchery clipping fish 10,000+/- trout.
As you
can see the Association has been very busy over the past year. But it doesn’t
stop here! We are committed to continue with the liming projects knowing these
are expensive but necessary steps in the habitat and salmon population
restoration.
We
will continue to request funds from various organizations and from you, the
membership, to help bring the
Medway back to its past glory. There is a long road ahead! But together we can
do it.
Please
renew your membership ($10.00 per annum) for 2012 and make a donation to help
fund our liming initiatives.
In our first three years, much of the Association’s efforts
have centred
around the re-population of salmon and trout
populations. Our incubation box experiment in 2009
was carried out
in partnership with NS Adopt-A-Stream Program. In 2010 we
continued
with our stocking/rearing initiatives, however, we will enter the next
phase to improve the water quality of the Medway River / Watershed.
