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Press Release–May 24, 2000
For immediate release
What do Domtar, Falconbridge, INCO, the MNR and many more organizations have
in common? With a lot of TLC, energy and funding, they’re "growing"
Muskies to restock the Spanish River!
Today, many of these sponsors, the press and other supporters gathered at the
new Marina in Spanish, Ontario, to "welcome home" 130 new Muskellunge
yearlings.
Years ago, the Muskies, up to 60 lbs and 6' long, ruled the waters of the
lower Spanish River. Through over-fishing and environmental degradation, the
mighty Muskies disappeared. The river, now in good health due to the ongoing
restorative work by industry, government and the public, can sustain the Muskies
once again.
The Espanola Branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources, in partnership with
the Friends of the Spanish River, undertook this ambitious experimental project
five years ago, with a good measure of success to date. This costly and
time-consuming effort has taken a great deal of patience and funding. It could
not have even been attempted without the generous support of the many sponsors
and the media to "spread the word".
Wayne and Chris Selinger are the husband and wife team of biologists with the
Espanola MNR who conceived of the project. Wayne explained, "From the
Muskie fry through to the fingerlings and certainly to the yearling stage, the
Muskie has a voracious appetite and must eat live minnows almost constantly to
survive and grow. If they don’t get enough to eat, they eat each other. You
get the picture?"
So, here is the process that has evolved towards achieving the successful
reintroduction of the Muskellunge to the Spanish River. Throughout the month of
May, the MNR with volunteers from the Friends of the Spanish River, set live
trap nets in Georgian Bay to capture adult male and female Muskellunge where
they carefully extract the eggs and milt. The Muskie fry are developed at the
Domtar Inc. Powerhouse in Espanola. Thousands of "fry" are released at
the point of capture to ensure a healthy balance. 15,000 to 20,000 fry are
transported to Chamberlain’s Fish Culture Service in Lindsay, Ontario, where
they are raised. The approximately 3,000 surviving fingerlings (size 6" to
7") are returned to Northern Ontario in the fall and "seeded"
throughout the lower Spanish River. About 200 fall fingerlings are
"wintered over" at Chamberlain’s, brought back and introduced to the
lower Spanish River in the spring. Chris said, "The theory is that the
smaller number of yearlings will have a much higher survival rate at
approximately 16" to 18" long."
Bill Blight, an active "Friends" Muskie volunteer stated, "The
Muskies reach sexual maturity at age 6 years, hence the 6-year minimum program
period to allow the new Muskies to begin breeding in the Spanish River."
Today’s celebration of the introduction of these 130 Muskellunge yearlings
into the Spanish River should give us all hope for the future that we can make a
difference through cooperation, initiative and example!
A very special thank you to our partners, the Ministry of Natural Resources
who do most of the work. A very special thank you also to our sponsors: Domtar
Inc., Espanola Game and Fish Protective Association, Falconbridge Ltd., Fish
America Foundation/Wildlife Forever, Fox River Valley Chapter of Muskies Inc.,
Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund, INCO Ltd., Muskies Inc.- Ontario Chapter, North
Shore Anglers and Hunters Conservation Association, Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, Protection Enhancement Fund approved by the Fish & Wildlife
Advisory Board through the Ontario Government Minister of Natural Resources and
Recreational Fisheries Institute of Canada. Thank you also to in-kind
supporters: NAR Environmental Consultants Inc. and the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment.
A special thank you to the following members of the media: CBC Radio North,
Manitoulin Recorder, MCTV, Mid-North Monitor, the Sudbury Star and 94.1 FM.
As we enter the new Century and the new Millennium on January 1, 2001, we
encourage you to join us in Restoring, Preserving and Celebrating our great
river! You can learn more about the Spanish River by visiting our website at
Contact Bill Blight, our Membership Director at (705) 869-1324,
"invest" $10.00 and become a member of our growing "family".
You will be surprised at how protective you will become of "your"
river!
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