Fondation pour la sauvegarde de la truite mouchetée |
Honouring an individual or group that creates, presents or encourages conservation, habitat or wildlife programs to youth
Over the past 30 years, brook trout in Quebec have been facing many pressures, among them acid rain, siltification of spawning grounds, poaching, and so on. So, in 1995, a group of concerned individuals formed the Fondation pour la sauvegarde de la truite mouchetée to promote the conservation of the species. Since then, the foundation has funded important academic research into conservation issues affecting the outlook for brook trout, especially in the area of habitat management. A major focus, though, has been its efforts to promote the conservation ethic among youth through sport fishing.
The foundation’s programs are multi-faceted. Some are focused on the classroom and teaching students about the life cycle of brook trout and species habitat needs. But the foundation is perhaps best known for its work in the outdoors. Among its most successful programs is “Pêche en herbe,” which teaches young people the basics of fishing, along with important lessons about trout biology and conservation. More than 9,000 students in the Quebec City region have participated in the program to date. Since 2011, the foundation has been reaching even more youth with a “portable pond” program that gives students a chance to learn about trout up close.