Aundeck-Omni-Kaning First Nation, in the interest of conservation and to protect existing smallmouth bass habitat, applied to the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre in the fall of 2008 for assistance in conducting a shoreline survey. A component of the work was to identify potential areas where future smallmouth bass nests could be developed.
Seven different locations around the First Nation were explored for possible smallmouth bass nesting habitat and habitat data was collected using 12 of the identified smallmouth bass nests. Fieldwork for this project was conducted by A/OFRC personnel.
One of the exciting aspects of this projects was the partnership developed through common interest between Aundeck-Omni-Kaning First Nation and the Little Current Fish and Game Club. This partnership facilitated the implementation of this project and brought together these two stakeholders in the course of investigating the preferred nesting habitat of this species. A technical report arising from the findings of this work will assist these partners with educating their members and will provide guidance for planning conservation efforts, including the development of any additional bass nesting habitat.
Nancy Debassige, a M'Chigeeng First Nation member and A/OFRC summer student, was pleased to add to her field experience by assisting A/OFRC Biologists Kim Tremblay and Maureen Peltier with the fieldwork.
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