A local angler, outfitter and prospector, Chris Verbiski was honoured in New York City last night with the Lee Wulff Salmon Conservation Award.

Verbiski was one of the co-discoverers of the massive Voisey’s Bay nickel and copper deposit in Labrador.

The Atlantic Salmon Federation says Verbiski established the Atlantic Rivers Outfitting Company, which he owns and operates.

The federation says the company maintains commercial lodges on the Hunt and St. Lewis rivers in Labrador, educating visitors from around the world about salmon rivers.

The company initiated a partnership with DFO in 2014 to track wild Atlantic salmon over several years on the St. Lewis River.

The federation says Verbiski’s lodges have had a live release policy for guests since 2012.

He has also funded research into the post release condition of fish, and is preparing to install a state-of-the-art sonar counting system on the Hunt River in 2020.

The federation says it will be the only salmon assessment site in Canada north of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.