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ARCHIVED - National Recreational Fisheries Awards – Recipients in 1999
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The 1999 Award recipients are:
- Mr. Richard Whitaker, Newfoundland
- St. Mary's River Association, Nova Scotia
- Fondation de la faune du Québec, Québec
- Gesti-Faune inc., Québec
- Trout Unlimited Canada, Alberta
Mr. Richard Whitaker, Newfoundland
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans,
presents a National Recreational Fisheries Award to Mr. Richard Whitaker.
Mr. Whitaker initiated the formation of two prominent organizations in Newfoundland. He is a founding member and the first president of the Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland (SAEN). He also worked to create the Salmonid Council of Newfoundland to help coordinate the concerns of all organizations and individuals involved with recreational fisheries management in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Whitaker developed a proposal for integrated salmonid recreational fisheries management within St. Mary's Bay, Avalon Peninsula. He also sits as Chair of the Operations Committee for the Newfoundland Freshwater Resource Centre, a group that focuses on public awareness and education of salmonid ecosystems and recreational fisheries. He has supported several research projects on Atlantic salmon and trout by submitting proposals and administering studies.
St. Mary's River Association, Nova Scotia
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans,
presents a National Recreational Fisheries Award to Mr. John Cameron.
The St. Mary's River Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization comprised of salmon anglers and naturalists committed to the preservation of the St. Mary's River. Projects include enhancing riverbank and riverbed areas, annual cleanups of the river, improving the habitat of Atlantic salmon, maintaining the Atlantic Salmon Museum, and publishing studies related to habitat and fish populations. Promoting conservation is an ongoing effort directed at all area anglers and residents.
Fondation de la faune du Québec, Québec
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans,
presents a National Recreational Fisheries Award to Mr. Bernard Beaudin.
This non-profit organization was founded in 1984. Its mission is to promote the conservation and enhancement of wildlife and their habitat in Quebec. The Fondation de la faune du Québec developed the "Pêche en herbe" program in 1997 to introduce Quebec children to fishing. The program is a one-day activity that uses games to teach children about the importance of the fishery, including the careful exploitation of resources, fish biology and habitat, knot-making, water safety and regulations. The children are taken to a lake or river to fish and, at the end of the day, they get to keep the fishing rods given to them and are presented with a certificate that also serves as a fishing licence. This program has been a tremendous success.
The Fondation has actively pursued all sport fishing stakeholders in the Quebec wildlife community to participate in the program.
Gesti-Faune inc., Québec
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans,
presents a National Recreational Fisheries Award to Mr. David Craig.
Gesti-Faune inc., created in 1993, is a small enterprise dedicated not only to sustaining recreational fisheries, promoting angling opportunities, education and exposure of youth to fisheries, but also to the research and management of brook trout. Their mandate, to expand and improve fishing opportunities, is accomplished through the operation and management of two outfitters. Gesti-faune inc. was created when Mr. David Craig proposed to take over operations of the Manoir Brûlé Fishing Club in 1990-1991. This initiative opened operations to corporate clients and succeeded in turning a private fishing club into a corporate level outfitter. The initiative has also saved 15 seasonal jobs in recreational fishing and brought in $450 000 in revenues.
Gesti-Faune inc. also founded the Gesti-Faune Research Centre (GFRC) in 1995, which is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to brook trout conservation. The objectives of the GFRC are to optimize and develop new management and habitat enhancement projects for brook trout, educate the public on the plight of brook trout and enhance the conservation of this species. Gesti-Faune inc. initiated a "Youth Fishing" program in the summer of 1998 to increase the participation of youth in recreational fishing. This organization is presently involved in initiating a spawning bed construction project in collaboration with the Quebec Wildlife Foundation.
Trout Unlimited Canada, Alberta
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans,
presents a National Recreational Fisheries Award to Mr. Brian Couronne.
This organization instituted Trout Unlimited Canada's Fish Rescue Project, which is now in its fourth year. In the last three years, Trout Unlimited has rescued and returned to their habitat over 146 000 fish in Calgary's Bow River. These fish were left to die when the water was turned off in the irrigation canals that lead to the Bow River. Trout Unlimited Canada raised public awareness and recruited volunteers and financing to help put the stranded fish (primarily trout sport fish) back into the Bow River. Trout Unlimited is working very hard to protect and enhance habitat, thus improving recreational fishing and tourism opportunities.
Trout Unlimited Canada's "Yellow Fish Road" program is made up of local groups of volunteers who paint yellow fish on sewer inlets to increase awareness regarding the disposal of toxic material into the storm sewers. This program addresses numerous stormwater issues that help to maintain and improve fisheries habitat.
