Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Queens Co. Fish Hatchery Closure Could Endanger Whitefish: Mayor


Atlantic Whitefish
 As part of federal budget cuts, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will be closing a fish hatchery in Queens County.  The Mersey Bio-diversity facility in Milton has been in operation for years, in conjunction with a similar one at Coldbrook in the Annapolis Valley.  Saving the Atlantic Whitefish from extinction by stocking lakes and rivers in the province has been a priority of the hatchery.  District of Queens Mayor John Leefe fears closing it will put the fish in jeopardy again.



The mayor says Atlantic salmon stocks could also be affected by the closure.  He has written a letter to the federal fisheries minister asking him to intervene and prevent DFO from closing the Milton hatchery.  He has written a letter to the federal fisheries minister asking him to intervene and prevent DFO from closing the Milton hatchery.