After raising chum salmon from eggs, students from about 50 school across Greater Victoria are releasing fry into Thetis Lake now and throughout May.
The original release location at Goldstream park changed due to the Columbia Fuels tanker truck crash and gasoline spill next to Goldstream River on April 16.
The schools releasing the salmon are part of a program run by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. After the fuel spill, DFO contacted the Capital Regional District asking permission for the fish to be released in the lake.
B次元官网网址淲e are happy this will help the students and the salmon,B次元官网网址� said Lloyd Rushton, CRD Parks general manager. B次元官网网址淐raigflower Creek already has salmon in it. The salmon have to be released now and cannot be kept in the classrooms any longer.B次元官网网址�
Schools are releasing chum fry until the end of May. The CRD has deemed the main beach at Thetis Lake a B次元官网网址渜uiet zoneB次元官网网址� until May 31.
B次元官网网址淲e are asking people to co-operate,B次元官网网址� Rushton said. B次元官网网址淭he quiet zone is to be respected during the times when the fry are being released. We are asking park users to keep their dogs away from the students and the beach (when the schools are there).B次元官网网址�
Once the fish are released in the lake they will eventually swim their way to the northeastern side of the lake and navigate into Craigflower Creek and to the ocean.
Grade 1 and 2 students from Colwood elementary school arrived at the main beach at Thetis Lake Friday to release about 200 chum they have been caring for in the classroom since they were eggs in January.
B次元官网网址淧eople have questions on how well they will swim and get into the river,B次元官网网址� said Colwood elementary teacher Murray Goode. B次元官网网址淭he Department of Fisheries and Oceans determined this was the best place to release them.B次元官网网址�
The best part of raising the salmon in the class room is B次元官网网址渞eleasing them and watching them,B次元官网网址� said six-year-old Josh Twidale.
B次元官网网址淭he oil spill was sad and especially being because all those fish were released (by the hatchery) before,B次元官网网址� said Iris Twidale, parent volunteer for Colwood elementary. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 great the kids are still learning about nature in school.B次元官网网址�
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
