Due to circumstances beyond my control this scribe was unable to post the meeting highlights until now.
The meeting was held at the usual location: The New Horizons Senior’s Club in East Margaree with 11 members in attendance. The following transpired:
Lowell Weir, our funding raising chair indicated he had recently approached two large potential donors and will be making an application for funding soon.
Geoff Nishi, from the Inverness South Angler’s Association (ISAA), reported that considerable progress was made on new structures and additions in the Graham’s River and a parr count was encouraging. Brood stock collection was proceeding. The Mabou brood stock collection was successful.
Clifford Boudreau from the Richmond County Wildlife Association (RCWA) indicated that the results of the genetic analysis performed by DFO and funded by WSU were not yet available. It has been almost a year since the study was completed.
Pat and a number of Board members, plan to attend the Department of Fisheries Inland Division meeting in Baddeck that will gather input for Provincial regulations.
A new initiative to construct a proposal for putting salmon back in the Grand river will be undertaken by WSU and RCWA. It will include a review of stocking strategies performed on other rivers that have been approved by DFO to ascertain whether they would be applicable to the Grand River.
WSU will fund a project to review literature on stocking strategies for salmon to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Geoff will coordinate this initiative. It will be done in conjunction with a university, likely, Dalhousie.
A letter will be sent to all our members and supporters outlining our efforts on the Grand River and ask for advice for possible next steps. A meeting will be held in late January to discuss the outcome.
Bob Shortt agreed to be Nominating Committee Chair.
Thanks, until next time.