Hatching another project
Port Morien wildlife group to raise trout eggs at indoor facility
With the help of the public, the Port Morien Wildlife Association’s latest project is coming to fruition.
Jeff McNeil, a director with the wildlife group, said the fish egg incubation site at Sand Lake has been approved by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture’s inland fisheries division.
“Stephen Thibodeau from inland fisheries came to our facility for an inspection and has approved a permit for our club to raise trout eggs for 2018,” he said. “The money was raised through the support we receive from the public with our salt cod dinners. That’s where we received most of our funding.”
Several years ago, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality leased its former water treatment building at Sand Lake to the wildlife group.
“The lease agreement was that we would raise trout.”
As a non-profit association, McNeil said it took time to raise the money since they also fund other projects such as the annual fishing derby.
“We have finally come up with enough funds to raise trout eggs … through the salt cod dinners and countless hours by our volunteers. Whatever we make we stretch it to accommodate whatever projects we can.”
McNeil said they raised about $1,500 to cover costs such as the electrical bill and equipment.
The eggs, which are expected at the end of March, will come from the Margaree hatchery which is owned by the province.
The association has had an incubation site in Homeville for 15 years however the outdoor site has challenges with snow and cold temperatures.
“The Sand Lake facility gives us the opportunity to raise eggs in an indoor setting.”
McNeil said they will receive 50,000 eggs for the Sand Lake site and will monitor the hatch rate.
“If it turns out to our favour then we would continue to decrease the production of eggs hatched at the Homeville site and increase it at the Sand Lake site.”
Once the eggs hatch and reach the stage of fry or fingerling, they will be released in streams, lakes, ponds and rivers around the municipality.
McNeil said the Two Rivers Wildlife Park has loaned them an incubation tank which is six feet wide, two feet deep and holds about 4,800 litres of water.
The wildlife group is now preparing for its fundraiser salt cod dinner which will be held March 25 from 3-4 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Port Morien.
“We have to thank our members, our members’ families and other volunteers who support this fundraiser through waiting tables, helping us cook, right down to the cleanup afterwards. There’s many who take part and without them we wouldn’t be able to fundraise to get these projects going.”