October Newsletter 2016

We’re now in October, one of my favourite months! The days are now shorter, though fresh and bright but, where did the 2016 field season go? All in all, 2016 has been quite good generally for salmon runs, and that has stimulated lots of encouragement among community groups, along with a sense that their hard work just might just be paying off.

We are now seeing many of the interim, and some final, reports from our recipient groups. This year we helped 62 projects, most of which are one year in duration, though some are multi-year projects just starting and others winding up. We have gained our sense of optimism that this Foundation is helping make a difference through these reports, along with the positive feedback we receive from those we have helped.

Beginning in late August and throughout September we have enjoyed the outstanding support of NB Liquor staff as they have carried out another successful “Protect Our Rivers” sales event. We like this event, and so do ANBL customers and staff, as it’s a great way to help river conservation in New Brunswick. Importantly, we contribute 100 percent of proceeds to NB conservation projects.

Our featured volunteer this month is Paul Michael. Paul is a veteran salmon conservationist and Charlottetown based lawyer. He has been an ASCF Director since 2007, prior to which he served several years as president of the PEI Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation. We are very fortunate to have Paul’s counsel at our directors table.

October’s featured project is being delivered by the Pictou County Rivers Association which is laying the groundwork fora salmon habitat conservation watershed management plan by surveying the main river and several tributaries. We encourage recipient groups to invest the time in creating a plan, identifying the issues and setting priorities. It’s an excellent investment that pays off in the long run. Best wishes to the PCRA!

Yours in conservation!

Stephen Chase

Executive Director