Family Fishing Day
Morell River Management Coop’s Annual Family Fishing Day took place Victoria Day, May 21st, 2018. 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 weather! Thank you to our MRMC 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.
Fish 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 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 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 coordinated this years Fish Friends Program and added some great new aspects. Students were given presentations from Eliza about the biology of the Atlantic Salmon and their importance to the First Nations culture. On the mornings of the fish release Mi’kmaq elder Georgina Knockwood-Crane gave opening ceremonies at Mooney’s Pond and blessed the fish before they were released into the wild. 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 L.M. Montgomery, Eliot River, Parkdale, Morell, Mt. Stewart, Cardigan, Montague and Southern kings participated in the Fish Friends Program on June 13th, 14th, & 15th, 2018. Students released their raised Atlantic Salmon into the streams 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
From June 20th to 22nd 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 shoreline of St. Peters Bay. We plan to continue to participate in the cleanup next spring!
Morell River Run Festival
July 18th-22nd, 2018
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 up annually and attended again in 2018 as part of the River Run Expo on Saturday July 21st 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! This year we even put one of our crew members up on the dunk tank!
Tree and Shrub Planting
This year our crew planted 500 trees along the riparian zones of the Morell River and Schooner Creek!
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.
Annual MRMC Variety Show
Starting in 2016 the MRMC started hosting an annual Variety Show featuring local talent in the Spring. There are refreshments, a 50/50 draw, a silent auction and a booth showcasing the Morell River Management Coop. All proceeds are used to better conserve, restore, develop, and enhance in-stream and riparian habitat for fish and wildlife in the St Peter’s Bay area. Keep an eye on our social media pages for our events!
Community Events
The Morell River Management Coop hosts and co-hosts numerous 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 these events and more!
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 2019’s AGM!