Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to recognize The Port Credit Salmon and Trout Association, which recently formed in the riding of Mississauga South.

They came together in March of this year to promote and protect the trout and salmon populations in the Credit River and Lake Ontario.

The PCSTA formed to combat the decline in local trout and salmon stocks and work towards growing the lake’s fish population.

In its first month alone, the PCSTA has already taken some important steps toward realizing this goal.

They have recruited over 100 members and initiated Port Credit’s first pen rearing project.

Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and its partners stock about 1.7 million salmon and trout into Lake Ontario annually to provide fishing opportunities and support native species restoration.

Of those, about 85,000 chinook salmon are stocked into the Credit River.

This year, a small number of chinook salmon are being held in a pen in Port Credit prior to being stocked in the lake.

The PCSTA is playing a crucial role in these efforts by caring for the fish.

Soon these 5,000 salmon will be mature enough to be released into the lake.

Port credit has a long history as a fishing village.

In the past, our community was home to a large commercial fishing industry and to this day, many local businesses continue to depend on this important fishery, including fishing charters, the Port Credit Harbour, village marinas and dozens of local restaurants and coffee shops.

Port Credit is also home to Ontario’s largest salmon derby, which is a tremendous tourism destination for anglers from all over Ontario and the United States.

It’s no surprise that the village prides itself on being the “Salmon Capital of Ontario.”

I want to commend the Port Credit Salmon and Trout Association for their work promoting conservation and developing this world-class fishery.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.