Family Fishing Day:
Morell River Management Coop’s Annual Family Fishing Day occurred on May 20th, 2017. The Board of Directors of the Morell River Management Co-op would like to thank everyone for coming out to enjoy the beautiful Family Fishing Day at Mooney’s Pond Interpretive Center. It was a terrific day with lots of food and fantastic warm weather! Thank you to our MRMC board, volunteers, and everyone that helped us with this event. Thank you to our 2017 sponsors: MRMC Crew Supervisor Rannie MacLellan, Discover Kia Charlottetown and the Morell Consumers Co-op. We are looking forward to next year!
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.
Fish Friends Program:
Each year classes take part in releasing fry staged Atlantic Salmon at Mooney’s Interpretive Centre in Peakes, PEI. The Abegweit Biodiversity Enhancement Hatchery has restored the Fish Friends Program on PEI from The Atlantic Salmon Federation. The hatchery delivers salmon eggs to a few schools, where the students will take care of them in a classroom aquarium. The students learn about conservation, and the biology of the Atlantic Salmon, and then get to release them into the stream.
Schools from Cardigan, Morell, Mt Stewart, Eliot River, Bonshaw, and Montague areas participated in the Fish Friends Program and on June 13th, 14th, & 15th, 2017, they released their raised Atlantic Salmon into the streams at Mooney’s Interpretative Centre. There were about 230 kids in total, with about 250 salmon released. After the fish were in the stream, the kids enjoyed activities such as a scavenger hunt, nature walk, play time with soccer balls, foot balls, and frisbees, and a BBQ.
Annual Beach Cleanup:
On May 30th, 2017 the Morell River Management Coop participated in the Annual Beach cleanup alongside the PEI Aquaculture Alliance. We cleaned up garbage along the St Peter’s Bay and collected a total of 1741 lbs. We plan to participate in this event again in 2018.
Morell River Run Festival:
July 13th-17th 2016
The Morell River Run Festival is a highlight of the year for many residents of the village. The Morell River Management Co-op has a booth set annually and attended again this year as part of the River Run Expo on Saturday July 15th at the Rossiter Park Shelter. 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:
In October 2016, the staff at Morell River Management Coop planted 706 trees and shrubs in the Morell and Midgell areas.
Broodstock Collection:
Broodstock collection occurred October and November 2016. Fish are collected, spawned at the hatchery when ready and then the broodstock fish are released back into the area they were collected from. The eggs overwinter and are well taken care of at the hatchery in Scotchfort and then are released the following year back into the river. This broodstock collection with local watershed groups, PEI Fish & Wildlife, and the Abegweit Biodiversity Enhancement Hatchery is used to help promote spawning and stabilize future populations.
