| Bernard -- Action Requested - Salisbury Hatchery
We are aware that even though the Salisbury Fish Hatchery is in the F&W budget, there is now significant pressure to close this facility. Several years ago there was consideration to close Salisbury. When Vermont's sporting groups became aware of this: We suggested that we would accept an increase in our license fees to cover the shortfall. That timely proposal was accepted, and Salisbury was saved by sportspeople. Now, here we are again, with discussions being held about closing Salisbury, this time apparently due to an ANR/DEC decision that will not grant another discharge permit to the Salisbury facility (current permit expires in 2027), all because of concerns about the amount of fish effluent in the water being discharged. Really? Fish effluent? The Salisbury Fish Culture Station is THE broodstock station for Vermont, producing approximately nine million trout eggs annually for other Vermont hatcheries. Using light-controlled rooms, trout spawned at Salisbury spawn earlier in the year than normal, thereby giving more time to grow the fish, resulting in larger fish and improved survival when being stocked. First established in 1931, 93 years later Salisbury is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and predictably spawns and raises Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Steelhead and Lake Trout, all for the benefit of Vermonters. Closing Salisbury cannot help but create a negative effect on the currently vibrant fishing that Vermonters and non-residents enjoy, which provides significant income for the state. We OPPOSE closing Salisbury. Please take a couple of minutes to contact the appropriate people using our TAKE ACTION! page. It's simple and easy, then engage your friends by forwarding this. Lawsuit As you might expect, the State has made several motions, one of which requested an extension of time to respond. Another request was to have our Complaint consolidated with our Request for a Preliminary Injunction (PI). If the motion to consolidate was granted (which would save the State time and money trying to figure out how to defend), it would signal that, perhaps, Judge Sessions did not give our challenges much merit. I am pleased to say that Judge Sessions denied the motion to consolidate, and you can read his 7-page decision here. If you read that, you will likely smile as I did when you read that Judge Sessions quotes the Bruen decision. Speaking generally, and knowing there may be further posturing, we will likely have a hearing in the April-May time frame on the PI (which *COULD* immediately put a stay on the enforcement of the mag ban, the waiting period, or both), and a trial in the July 2024 time frame. We could not have gotten where we are without the grassroots support that our challenges have garnered from all corners: Our Clubs, Supporting Businesses, Individuals, FFLs, and Corporate Sponsors. But: The funding need remains. Thank you to all who have given; we all however know of folks who have not - and we are all in this together. Donations can be made online though VTFSC's website located at www.vtfsc.org, or through the mail by sending a check to: VTFSC Defense Fund
14 Stafford Ave
Morrisville, VT 05661-8514 Thank you for supporting the VTFSC in fighting for our Freedom and OUR Rights, and stay tuned for more updates. Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs
https://www.vtfsc.com/ | 
