FishOn!
The FishOn! project’s purpose is to create a culture of stewardship for clean water among Vermont’s food professionals. Through engaging in fishing and guided conversation during our fishing trips, we build a hands-on illustration of the link between on-land growing practices and the lake’s water quality. Our goal is to use Lake Champlain’s historic, and potential, role as a local food source as a vehicle to look for solutions for current threats to the lake’s health.
In 2017, we led 8 trips for VFN members on the lake with Cloud Nine Charters and Sure Strike Charters. The trips were hosted by Meghan Sheradin, from the Vermont Fresh Network and the Vermont Grass Farmers Association, and James Ehlers from Lake Champlain International. At the end of the summer, we presented a Celebration of Lake and Land dinner open to the public at Basin Harbor in Vergennes. The dinner included opportunities to sample Lake Champlain fish prepared in different styles, tour the lake on the EScape cruise boat, and enjoy a beautiful evening on the shores of Lake Champlain.
Funding for the 2017 FishOn! Activities was provided by grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program in partnership with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. Additional project support was provided by the WaterWheel Foundation.
Interested in fish and Lake Champlain? Check out some of these resources.
- Background to Issues Addressed During FishOn! (updated for 2017)
- Press Release on the 2017 FishOn! Project
- Notes on Preparing Lake Champlain Fish (for home cooks)
- Fried Perch on the list of Iconic Vermont Dishes (Food Network)
- Catch of the Day - Yellow Perch (Vermont Life, 2018 - with recipes)
- Seven Days Article on Lake Champlain Fish in the Vermont Market (2014)
- From Across the Lake: Fried Perch in Syracuse
- From Across the Lake: Adirondack Fish Fries
- Vermont Fish & Wildlife Fishing License and Regulations
- Lake Champlain Basin Program - Water Quality Information
- Lake Champlain Basin Program - Fish Consumption Guidelines
- Ray’s Seafood - sells Lake Champlain fish
This project was funded by an agreement awarded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program. NEIWPCC manages LCBP's personnel, contract, grant, and budget tasks and provides input on the program's activities through a partnership with the LCBP Steering Committee. Generous support was also provided by the Waterwheel Foundation.
