On behalf of my colleague and my organization, let me thank you for this opportunity.
I am the president of the Margaree Salmon Association, a volunteer recreational body situated on Cape Breton Island. I have with me my vice-president, Mr. Bill Haley, who will be the main presenter. He will talk to you at length in a moment.
We are located on Cape Breton Island on the gulf side. The Margarees are a heritage river, one of two heritage rivers in Nova Scotia, and we are a not-for-profit charitable organization that has been in existence for some 35 years.
We have a membership of 200 recreational fishermen, half of whom come from either across the country or from the United States and who travel to the Margarees. Our prime objective is to further in all ways possible the conservation, protection, propagation, and perpetuation of the Atlantic salmon. The Margaree rivers are the only rivers in Nova Scotia that have sufficient fish in their waters to be able to offer a season-round, catch-and-release fishery. The majority of the 2,300 Nova Scotia salmon license holders fish on the Margarees and contribute considerably to the economy of the small rural area in the Margarees.
That's my introduction of this organization. I will now turn the presentation over to Bill Haley, who will talk to you at greater length on the technicalities of our interest.
Thank you.