| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Become an Official Wye Marsh “Water Tester”
on World Wetlands Day February 2nd.
 Midland,
Ontario, Canada… February 2nd, 2007 is World Wetlands Day
and the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre will be supporting the Wetlands and
Fisheries Theme “Fish for Tomorrow” with a hands-on seminar
and water testing procedure in the Marsh from 1pm-3pm. The seminar is
included with the price of admission.
Adam Zita, a member of the Wye Marsh education team is organizing the
day. Zita says, “Participants will test our wetland water for nitrogen,
phosphorous and dissolved oxygen levels to determine the health of the
Marsh.”
Discussions during the session will include answers to questions such
as: Why are certain minimum levels of nutrients important in a healthy
marsh? Why are these nutrients needed to support a healthy fish population?
Which species of Ontario fish use the marsh for spawning?
What is World Wetlands Day? February 2nd
each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the date of the adoption of
the Convention on Wetlands, in 1971, which occurred in the Iranian city
of Ramsar. Each year since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental
organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have
taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed
at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general
and the Ramsar Convention in particular. From 1997 to 2006, the
Convention’s Website has posted reports from more than 90 countries
of WWD activities.
With the emphasis on fish and fish habitat a number of the 2007 objectives
are directly related to the Georgian Bay area and the Wye Marsh as a major
wetland in the Southern Georgian Bay Area, for example:
- The state of the world's fisheries where 75% of commercially
important marine and most inland water fish stocks are either currently
over fished or being fished at their biological limit, and where the
effects of unsustainable aquaculture practices on wetland ecosystems
are of growing concern.
•The important role that inland and coastal wetlands play in supporting
fish and fisheries at all levels, from large-scale, commercial fisheries
to subsistence fishers, and from wild, capture fisheries to farmed fish;
the critical role that coastal wetlands play as spawning and nursery
areas for many marine species; and the urgent need for effective management
of fisheries and the wetland ecosystems that support them.
“Wetlands support fisheries – keep them healthy.”
Zita encourages interested environmentalists and novices wanting to
learn about the environment to come out for the day to see the new interactive
exhibit about wetlands and biodiversity… “Zita adds, "We
will be offering complimentary guided walks before and after the seminar.”
The times of those walks are: 10:00, 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30.
Individuals wishing to research more information on World Wetlands Day
can visit http://www.ramsar.org
For more information contact the Wye Marsh at
705-526-7809 or info@wyemarsh.com
Editors’ Notes:
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is located 35 minutes northwest of Barrie Ontario
in the heart of Southern Georgian Bay’s Historic Resort Destination
in the Wye Valley, in Midland Ontario. The Centre continues to provide
outdoor experiences and environmental education for school groups, Scouts
and Guides, and international visitors. The centre is open year round,
seven days a week, allowing seasonal outdoor experiences in the winter,
spring, summer and fall.
For additional information contact Adam Zita or Laurie Schutt, Executive
Director
at (705) 526-7809.
Media wishing to write travel stories on Ontario’s great outdoors
should contact Denise Brophey
(705) 526-7809 to arrange for dates and times.
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