Since 1984, the Wildlife Foundation has provided financial and technical assistance to organizations so that they can carry out projects to protect, develop and enhance wildlife and their habitat. At the end of the day, hunters and fishermen are the lucky winners.
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Every year, hundreds of projects are supported across Quebec. They aim, among other things, at the development and restoration of aquatic habitats, wetlands and woodlands, the development and restoration of sites to promote the connectivity of wildlife habitats or even the implementation of forestry developments that take into account the wildlife needs. These are just a few examples.
Fish habitat has been at the heart of the Foundation’s actions since its beginnings. The first financial aid program that was put in place is still in force. This is the Aquatic Habitat Quality Improvement (AQHA) program. It supports the implementation of projects that aim to conserve, improve or restore the habitat of fish of interest for sport fishing with the aim of increasing productivity. Since 1987, the program has supported 1,346 projects, or 22% of the projects supported by the Foundation, for an investment of $16,082,496.
Over the years, many projects have been added to support actions in the aquatic environment. We can think of the Program for the conservation of Lake Saint-Pierre for example, or the Hydro-Québec Program for the development of natural environments.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
The Foundation’s action on fish habitat is vast and covers several species.
In the case of speckled trout, we can take the Prévost-Gilbert river as an example, which underwent a major excavation around twenty years ago, in order to avoid overflows. This greatly modified its configuration, which is characterized today by a more uniform and much shallower course. The river provides fewer shelters, spawning grounds and pools for speckled trout, thus affecting the reproduction of the species and making it more vulnerable to predation.
The Chaudière River Basin Committee project aims to diversify the configuration of the river, in order to promote the development and free movement of the speckled trout population.
We can also mention the lake trout project in Lake Témiscouata. During an inventory carried out in 2013, it was noted that natural recruitment was low for the lake trout population. The Témiscouata Hunting and Fishing Association and its partners have developed a spawning ground near an existing natural spawning ground. The aim was to help the reproduction of the species.
There are several other examples, such as the project of the Saint-Jean River Protection Association for the preservation of salmon or the project to acquire Île aux Noyers located in Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, which will maintain a wet meadow for the fish species of interest in Lake Saint-Pierre.
All of these interventions are made with the aim of ensuring success during sport fishing excursions.
YOUNG PEOPLE
The Foundation’s best-known assistance program, Pêche en herbe, allows young people aged 6 to 17 from the four corners of Quebec to experience a day of introduction to sport fishing in summer and winter. It is around a body of water that they will discover the basics of fishing, from the biology of fish to the responsibilities of a good fisherman. At the end of the activity, all young initiates will receive their budding fishing certificate, which will serve as a fishing license valid until they turn 18.
The chance to be able to share great moments of fishing pleasure with your child represents a great joy for a father.
Photo provided by Tourisme Mauricie Scarpino Photo
Carried out in collaboration with Canadian Tire and the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, the program has introduced more than 360,000 young people since 1997.
Since its creation, the Foundation has provided more than $122 million in financial support for nearly 9,000 projects, including 6,112 wildlife habitat conservation and development projects.
