Vermont Fish Stocks Could Drop for Years Under Budget Plan
The Salisbury Fish Culture Station, which is slated for closure, has been in operation since 1931. Photo courtesy of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
The Vermont angling community voiced concerns with Gov. Phil Scott’s proposal to close the Salisbury Hatchery, one of the state’s five fish hatcheries. Bob Samsom, of the Lake Champlain Walleye Association, said closing the hatchery will cause the state to lose more in economic activity than it will gain in savings. The Salisbury Hatchery is the primary source of trout eggs for the state. According to Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter, however, this was the least harmful option for his department to meet budget cuts requested by the Administration. The hatchery would soon need $13 million in upgrades to meet clean water standards, which figured into the decision to close it. Others have argued that to close the budget gap, the Department should have explored alternatives to shuttering the facility, such as raising fishing and hunting licenses.
Click here to read the full article on Vermont Public Radio’s website.
