Residents rally to restore fish to local streams By Layne Christensen News Reporter layne@nsnews.com LIKE many retired folk, Jack Atkinson spends a lot of time in his backyard. But while his neighbors are tending tlower beds, Atkinson is enjoying the outdoors through another activity: car- ing for the 500 fish fry penned in the creck to the rear of his property. For the past five years, the Capilano Highlands-area resi- dent has been raising and releasing Coho into McKay Creek in an effort to return fish stock to historic levels. He’s just one of a vast number of volunteers who work with Fisheries and ’ Oceans Canada’s Salmon Enhancement Program (SEP). SEP began 20 years ago as a joint federal-pro cial effort to restore West Coast salmon stocks. For his efforts, Atkinson was recognized by the Salmon Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board dur- ing an awards banquet at North Shore Winter Club Oct. 25. The advisory board, whose members include representa- tives of fishing groups and industry, teachers, consumers and citizens, provides inpur and guidance to SEP staff and the minister for Fisheries and Oceans. Also recognized — that evening were: Jim Wisnia and Carl Halverson of North fashic te “aie 4 NEWS photo Paul McGrath FISHERIES technician Sheldon Evers (above) holds a large chinook salmon that is ready to be spawned at the Capilano River Hatchery. Salmon Enhancement Program volunteer Jack Atkinson (right) raises Coho in McKay Creek from eggs incubated downstream by members of North Shore Fish and Game Club. Vancouver Outdoor School; Jim MacCarthy for his chair- manship of the annual Coho Festival; Karen Munro for her stewardship of North Shore Streamkeepers, which is work- ing to rehabilitate Brothers Creek and other streams; Alan Jonsson of North Shore Fish and Game Club, which oper- ates incubation boxes on McKay Creek, and Brian Halabourda and Bill Ryan of the Seymour Salmonid Society. Fisheries and Oceans Canada also recognized the Maplewood Creek Project and the Vancouver Salmon and Stream Society, both North Vancouver-based con- servation groups. ‘The SEP program provides technical advice and financial support to abour 300 volun- teer salmon enhancement and watershed stewardship pro- jects. Tt also operates 26 govern- ment hatcheries, including the Capilano River Hatchery; 60 spawning channels and 46 fishways. program raises and about 600 million juvenile salmon annual into B.C. streams. According to the government, salmon raised through SEP projects each vear account for approx- imately 10% to 20% of the Canadian salmon catch. NEWS photo Mike Wakefleld Good stuff, cheap MARGARET Mullen (left), Irene Horsfall and Mary Kitchen show some of the goods available for sale at the St. Anthony's thrift sale, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday Nov. 8 in the church hall at 2337 ingiewood PI. Sunday, November 2, 1997 — North Shore News — 17 res teas # Volunteers enhance A man and his dog banned fr By Ac::a Marie D’Angelo News Reporter dangelo@nsnews.com BAD dog. Bad owner. That was what Judge Doug Moss concluded on Wednesday as a West ouver man and his Rotoweiler were prohibited from setting foot or paw in Lighthouse Park for a vea Antonio Barrena, 44, entered into a peace bond afier incidents in the park in August with another dog owner. According — to : Cocktield and We: Police, df stocky Barrena was walking his unleashed 85- pound (39-kilogram) Rotaweiler in the park when the dog went 3 14-pound (six-kilo- gram) pooch owned by Graham Clark. Clark stuck out his foot to try to stop the Rotrweiler. Trevor had words with Clark rc field, Barrena said to Cl “PH kick vour balls into next year, Let’s gu man- to-aant.” Barrena called Clark a coward for nor fight- ing. Clark walked away, said police. Two days later Barrena and Clark and their dogs met again in the park. This time Clark picked up his Jack Russell terrier as the m park Rottweiler approached. Police say Clark tried to go around Barrena and the Rottweiler, Barrena, who lives near the park, reportedly told Clark he should be looking over his shoulder. Barrena’s lawyer Daniel Geller said: “This is the result of ovo very sensitive dog owners hav- ing it out... West Vancouver dog owners get quite emotional about their dogs.” Fudge Moss took a different view of the situ- ation. He called Barrena’s conduet childish, peru- lant and “nothing to be proud of.” Moss acknowledged that Rottweilers can be affectionate, but they also frighten people. “Tf vou can’e control it (the Rottweiler) vou ought not to have it in a public park.” said Moss, The judge told Barrena that “you and your dog” misbehaved. Barrena agreed to stay out of the park fora year under conditions of the peace bond The North Vancouver provincial court judge also required Barrena to keep his dog on a leash at all times when the animal was off Barrena’s prop That peace bond condition also lasts a vear. The judge warned Barrena that he could face a criminal charge if the dog orders weren't cd. Barrena did nor say anvehing. The dog was not in court. Ses