To whom it may concern, re…

To whom it may concern, re proposal number 20-MNRF004. I am a Past President of the Lake Huron Fishing Club, a 100% volunteer organization that has been in operation since 1983. Our mandate is centered around raising game fish, specifically Chinook salmon, Rainbow Trout and Brown trout for the purposes of stocking Lake Huron and it tributaries for the benefit of all. We also operate 50 plus micro hatcheries at elementary schools to educate and encourage youth interest in fisheries. Our hatcheries are periodically accessible to the public and we also host community and school groups on field trips for educational purposes. Our annual egg allocation and stocking limit is constant and the annual license process we go through is 100% repetitive.

Having our club require the same level of license and reporting that a commercial hatchery does, places an unnecessary burden on our members, and on MNRF staff to administer.
Please consider adding the community hatcheries to the list of Low-Risk institutions such as educational, research, and zoos from requiring an Aquaculture License.
Based on this mandate and record of operation we would like it to be considered that we be exempted from or reduced to a simple annual confirmation of continuance and reporting of stocking numbers.