A $10 million investment from the Ontario government will help two fisheries management facilities — one in Wheatley and one in Port Dover. The announcement was made on Friday, October 31 at the Lake Erie Management Unit at Wheatley Harbour.
Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources Mike Harris was on hand to make the announcement along with local officials including Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones.
The investment by the province ensures a long-term presence at Wheatley and Port Dover by the Management Unit, where important research is done on the Great Lakes commercial fishing industry. Several local fishermen were also in attendance to hear the announcement.
The large two-storey building on the edge of the water, as well as the one floor structure closer to the road will be replaced by newer state-of-the-art buildings and equipment to help staff keep up with the changing technological world.
“We’re making those important capital investments to restore the capital infrastructure here to build that around the great work our people do,” said Trevor Jones, who is also MPP for Chatham-Kent Leamington.
“For almost 20 years, Lake Erie has made up about 82 per cent of the total fish harvest in our commercial fishery on the Great Lakes,” said Minister Harris. “This is one of the best years that Lake Erie has ever seen.”
The Lake Erie Management Unit in Wheatley and satellite office in Port Dover, which have been in operation since the 1960s, are dedicated to responsible fisheries management. Experts at these facilities conduct research to monitor the health and fish populations of lakes and local watersheds.
“These people keep fishing opportunities thriving for future generations,” added Minister Harris. “All of this will help support the long-term health and sustainability of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair’s ecosystems and fish populations.”
Construction is expected to take place over the next couple of years, with Wheatley’s new facilities expected to open in 2029.
Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Mike Harris addresses the crowd with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones (left).
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
The current two-storey structure on the water in Wheatley.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
