2nd Annual Garage Sale to benefit the woefully underfunded Nanaimo River Hatchery will be held Saturday, September 24, 2011 at Harbour Chandler.

Funds raised are used for things like educational programs and the pink fishery programs. Last year we raised over $5000 for the Hatchery thanks to the generosity of contributors and purchasers. We had folks come from Campbell River to Duncan and we all had fun and got stuff at garage sale prices. With your help we will beat that total this year.

So.... if you have anything related to fishing, be it gear, electronics, boat stuff that you are not using we are collecting for the sale. Please go through your stuff and let me know by post or PM.

Cheers All,

I will be setting up my commercial knife sharpening at both the Father's Day Sale as well as the Hatchery Garage Sale Event (both held at The Harbour Chandler) and and part of the proceeds will be going to the hatchery. Price to sharpen is usually $10.00/knife but I will be setting the price at $5.00/knife to ensure we have lots of support for the hatchery! Bring your knives...done while you wait.

I Know it's a little early, but we need your support, this is a very worthwhile project. Please let me know if you can dig up some old (or not so old, LoL) gear for the sale.

Hey Mi Chica,

ZurTro Lures would be happy to donate some spoons for the hatchery garage sale.

I will contact you to arrange the details.

Thanks,

BT

Thanks BT, I was sure we could count on you to lead the way.

If anyone wonders why this fundraiser is urgent and neccessary, please read the following...

Nanaimo River Hatchery budget will be tight


By Robert Barron, Nanaimo Daily News March 31, 2011



Today marks the end of the fiscal year at the Nanaimo River Hatchery, but the budget for the hatchery's upcoming year will be tighter than ever.

The NRH, a vital component of salmonid enhancement in the Nanaimo area, receives $300,000 a year from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

That amount has not changed in 20 years and it is becoming difficult for the hatchery to operate properly because its costs are increasing.

Co-manager Brian Banks said the DFO funding provides barely enough to cover the primary operations at the hatchery, but its popular and informative school programs are paid for by fundraising in the community.

"Our budget has been frozen for many years but we're getting by, thanks to lots of support from the community," Banks said.

The NRH was opened in 1979 in response to rapidly declining chinook, coho and chum salmon stocks in the Nanaimo River and it's now one of more than a dozen operating on Vancouver Island under DFO's salmon-enhancement program.

The hatchery supports runs of chinook, coho, chum and now pink salmon as well, and releases more than one million fry each year into the Nanaimo River ecosystem.

Banks said the NRH is "struggling" to pay for its pink salmon program, which was only introduced in recent years, and the hatchery will likely soon go to the City of Nanaimo to request funding to assist.

RBarron@nanaimodailynews.com

20 years without any increase in funding, despite the hit inflation has caused. This is ridiculous, and just another instance that DFO wants to starve out/eliminate recreational fishing. As far as the City of Nanaimo being willing or able to help in any meaningful manner, I believe the possibility is slim to none.

We need your help, people!!!

Received a donation in kind from Aqua Tech Industries yesterday. How about it folks, let me know if you can part with some old gear for the sale.

Will have lots of stuff to donate again this year MiChica. I'll make sure I get it to you at least a month before the sale so you have plenty of time to get it organized.

This year I will more likely be a buyer than a donator of fishing stuff. So count me in as a customer!!!

But, what other kinds of items does the hatchery sale sell/need? I can keep my eyes peeled and start digging around where I can for stuff.

I've got a few things MiChica, and I'll of course be spending generously.
Hit up BigChrome, he's got enough gear to supply the whole fleet!

Thank you Jughead and Hot Rods!!! This is definitely a worthy endeavour.