100K baby fish released in P.E.I. rivers

More than a 100,000 baby salmon and trout are being released into P.E.I. rivers this week after a successful year at the Abegweit First Nations Fish Hatchery.

The number is more than three times what were released into waterways last year. The Abegweit First Nations Fish Hatchery is relatively new, and is celebrating a successful year raising the fish from eggs they gathered last fall.

Biologists and anglers hope that will mean a boost for P.E.I.'s recreational fishery.

"It's the first time for Morell in a little while because this is a new hatchery and while they were just getting started we just didn't have salmon included in the contract," provincial freshwater fisheries biologist Rosie MacFarlane told CBC News Thursday.

"There were some difficulties last year with the salmon. So this year we are very pleased that they have got a good crop of salmon for us to stock. The Morell is getting some today and Bristol creek will get a few as well and tomorrow the West River and Bonshaw will get some."

MacFarlane is excited to restock rivers where fish were killed last year, to kick-start those populations.