Family Fishing Day
Morell River Management Coop’s Annual Family Fishing Day took place on May 18th, 2019. The Board of Directors of the Morell River Management Co-op would like to thank everyone for coming out to enjoy Family Fishing Day at Mooney’s Pond Interpretive Center. Thank you to our board of directors, volunteers, and everyone that helped us with this event, especially our sponsors Going Fishing and the Morell Consumers Coop.
Family Fishing Day runs in conjunction with the Provincial Governments “Family Fishing Weekend” held on Victoria Day weekend every year. This is a Provincial initiative that allows Island residents to fish without a conservation fund or angling license for the weekend. This initiative promotes families to participate in the love of angling or introduction to the sport. It is an enjoyable family event that connects families and friends while enjoying a little exercise and the beautiful scenery of the outdoors.
Salmon are our Friends Program
Each year classes from various schools around PEI take part in releasing fry staged Atlantic Salmon at Mooney’s Interpretive Center in Peakes, PEI. The Abegweit Biodiversity Enhancement Hatchery has restored the Fish Friends Program, which is now called the “Plamu’k na Kitapina’q” or “Salmon are our Friends” program on PEI from The Atlantic Salmon Federation. The hatchery delivers salmon eggs to schools on the Island where the students care for and raise the fry in a classroom aquarium. The students learn about salmon conservation, the biology of the Atlantic salmon and the importance of our water before releasing their fish into our PEI river systems.
Eliza Knockwood of the Abegweit Conservation Society is the coordinator of the Salmon are our Friends Program. Students in every school were given presentations from Eliza about the biology of the Atlantic Salmon and their importance to Indigenous culture. On the mornings of the fish releases, Mi’kmaq elders gave opening ceremonies at Mooney’s Pond and blessed the fish before they were released into their native rivers. Eliza did an amazing job coordinating this years Fish Friends Program, giving many students a memorable experience with the Mi’kmaq culture.
Students from schools across the island including Georgetown Elementary, Southern Kings, Montague, Eliot River, Belfast, Vernon River, Mount Stewart, Cardigan, Morell Consolidated, Montessori, Parkdale and L.M. Montgomery released their salmon in June. Students released their Atlantic Salmon fry into the South-West branch of the Morell River at Mooney’s Interpretative Center. About 250 children released their salmon into the stream and enjoyed a scavenger hunt, nature walk and Barbecue.
Annual Beach Cleanup
The Morell River Management Coop participated in the Annual Beach cleanup alongside the PEI Aquaculture Alliance. The crew cleaned up tons of garbage along the southern shoreline of St. Peters Bay. We plan to continue to participate in the cleanup next spring!
Morell River Run Festival
July 17th to 21st, 2019
The Morell River Run Festival the highlight of the year for many residents of the village. This year the MRMC participated in the River Run Expo and put our first float in the River Run Parade!
The festival hosts events such as a seniors’ social, movie night, trivia, parade, BBQ, pancake breakfast, children’s stories, crafts, games, strawberry social and much more!
Tree and Shrub Planting
This year our crew planted 570 trees along the riparian zones of the Morell River and St. Peter’s River!
Broodstock Collection
Broodstock collection occurs October through November each year. Fish are collected along the Morell River, then spawned at the Abegweit Biodiversity Enhancement Hatchery in Scotchfort before being released back into their native rivers. The eggs are well taken care of at the Biodiversity Hatchery where they remain overwinter . In spring of the following year the young salmon are released back into the river as fry. This broodstock collection with local watershed groups, PEI Fish & Wildlife, and the Abegweit Biodiversity Enhancement Hatchery is used to help supplement wild populations of Atlantic salmon and brook trout.
Community Events
The Morell River Management Coop co-hosts many community events with the Eastern Region Sport & Recreational Council. These events include snowshoeing, bonfires, BBQs, hikes, scavenger hunts and more! Watch our social media pages for dates and times of these events!
Annual General Meeting:
Each spring the Morell River Management Cooperative holds their AGM to discuss past fiscal year activities and plan for future watershed activities. There are light refreshments and and everyone is always welcome! Stay tuned for the date of our 2020 AGM!