Volunteer profile: Charles (Charlie) MacInnes

Charles (Charlie) MacInnes has been a member of the NS Advisory Committee since the beginning, and has been involved in salmon habitat restoration for thirty years.

A science gradate from St. Francis Xavier University, MacInnes spent 30 years with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 25 of those years in habitat management. Recently retired, he stays involved with plenty of local community groups involved in habitat restoration.

An avid angler himself, which he says is important for perspective, he stresses anglers were the original conservation groups involved in lobbying government for the protection of Atlantic salmon

“I have always supported ‘boots on the ground projects’ and keeping the interest of volunteers high; there are too many plans that lead to the next plan without anything being done. This is certainly not the case of the conservation fund.”

“The ASCF plans but also believes things should be done, done well, and followed up on to ensure projects are done right.”

MacInnes says the fall season in Nova Scotia is off to a good start after a hot, dry summer; the gulf shore has just opened and salmon are already being caught.

“Going forward I do plan to be involved but I am very concerned with the amount of austerity measures targeting science programs including habitat and the retrenchment of programs away from communities into central centres, where in my opinion they are far less effective and quickly lose touch with the community.”