Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre

Project Summary: Lake Helen Sturgeon Assessment

Historically, Red Rock First Nation has fished Lake Helen for both subsistence and ceremonial purposes and this tradition still continues today. Due to recent regulations in which lake sturgeon were put on the endangered species list, the First Nation wanted to assess the population themselves to determine the health of the sturgeon population. Previous studies included a sturgeon tagging project in 2008. No lake sturgeon were captured. Red Rock First Nation is continuing the sturgeon study in hopes to achieve more accurate data.

The field work began on October 1, 2010 and continued to the 21st. Ninety-one net sets were completed. Four sturgeon were captured, tagged and released. Two of the four sturgeon were also surgically implanted with radio tags by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and released.

 

A sturgeon’s mouth has four barbels - sensory organs that precede their mouth. They use their snout to stir up sand and silt and the barbels detect food which is then sucked up and consumed.

 

 

A lake sturgeon’s body is covered in bony plates, called scutes, rather than scales. As juveniles they are sharp and are eventually worn down as they get older. 

Project Summary: Darrel Lake FWIN

The Mississauga #8 First Nation territory is home to many lakes. Darrel Lake is one of them and is approximately 43 hectares in size. Previous fisheries work completed on Darrel Lake was a lake survey in 1997. Three walleye were captured during that lake survey. The focus of the 2010 Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) project was to determine walleye population abundance. A/OFRC Fisheries Technician Sarah Couchie and Biologist Intern Jenna MacLaurin completed the netting, sampling and data entry. The results from this study will be added to existing data that will be the basis of a future Mississauga First Nation Fisheries Management Plan.

The FWIN ran from October 18th to the 22nd. Twelve overnight sets were completed. 209 yellow perch, 57 golden shiners, 34 northern pike and 9 pumpkinseeds were captured in the net sets. No walleye were captured in this study. The water surface temperatures ranged from 10 to 11.5 degrees Celsius.

 

Jenna MacLaurin measures the fork length of a yellow perch. Fork length is measured from the tip of the snout to the fork (middle) of the caudal fin.

 

Project Summary: La Cloche Lake FWIN

In October, the Sagamok First Nation and the A/OFRC conducted a Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) project in La Cloche Lake. This project was designed by staff at the Sagamok First Nation and reviewed by the A/OFRC. The A/OFRC also assisted with the initial data collection efforts, data analysis and technical reporting.

The La Cloche Lake recreational walleye fishery was closed in 2000 by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and a moratorium on gill netting, imposed by the Sagamok First Nation, has been in place since 1997. Previous FWIN’s were conducted in 2006 (with a catch-per-unit-effort (CUE) of 4.89), 2001 (CUE 2.42) and 1996 (CUE 0.88). A combined total of 10,700 walleye fingerlings were stocked in 1998 and 1999. 25,000 walleye fingerlings were also stocked in 2001 after the FWIN occurred and 24,227 fingerlings were stocked between 2003 and 2004. The data from this project will be used to determine whether or not to open the recreational walleye fishery.

The project ran from October 11th to the 21st, 2010. Mitchell and Bob Eshkakogan completed the netting and data collection. Eighteen net sets were completed. Fifty-three walleye were captured giving a catch-per-unit-effort of 2.9 walleye per net.

 

Bob and Mitchell Eshkakogan conducting the FWIN on La Cloche Lake. Photos courtesy of Penny Trudeau.

Project Summary: Serpent River Traditional Territory Management & Assessment

As a firm step in committing to partnerships between First Nations, the Crown, local Municipalities and interested groups, the Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) conducted lake surveys on Elliot and Dunlop Lakes. These lakes are located within the Serpent River First Nation Traditional Territory, also known as the Serpent River Watershed. The data collected from these lake surveys will be added to an existing database which will then be used to develop the First Nation’s Management Plan and Harvest Strategy.

Throughout August, SRFN technicians Joseph Owl, Quinn Meawasige, and Amber Simpson completed the lake surveys with help from A/OFRC contract technician Tammy Desbiens. The project was aimed at collecting shoreline and littoral zone data, as well as collecting water samples, identifying species within the fish community and identifying any shoreline development. Water samples were collected at the Secchi depth, and are currently undergoing testing for total phosphorus, pH, ammonia, chlorophyll a and total dissolved carbon. Mr. Owl and Justin Cook also completed dissolved oxygen/temperature profiles for the lakes. Seine netting and a total of four gill nets were randomly set in each lake to determine the presence/absence of fish species. The littoral and shoreline zone substrate, vegetation and any shoreline development will be mapped using ArcView GIS.

World Sturgeon Conservation Society Delegates Excited to Hear About Pic River Lake Sturgeon

 
Biologists and lake sturgeon enthusiasts from around North America gathered this past August for the World Sturgeon Conservation Society’s Annual Meeting in Bozeman, Montana. Andrew Ecclestone, who has been studying the Pic River lake sturgeon populations with the support of the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre for the past two years, delivered an entertaining and informative presentation to an appreciative audience. Delegates, especially from Ontario and other Great Lakes States, were excited to hear about the progress and success of the Pic River Lake Sturgeon Project.

Andrew, a Trent University Master’s candidate, is completing his thesis. Mr. Ecclestone, “found it beneficial to hear about other ongoing lake sturgeon projects within the Great Lakes region and to network with fellow biologists,” when asked about attending the sturgeon conference. “It has been exciting and rewarding to work on the Pic River Lake Sturgeon Project. Throughout the course of this experience, I have developed a greater appreciation and respect for this region and for its people, its wildlife, and the environment.”

 
Andrew Ecclestone holding a sturgeon captured from the Pic River.

Preliminary conclusions highlighted in his presentation included: the unusual abiotic conditions observed in 2010 (i.e. higher spring/summer temperatures; low flows and spring runoff) resulted in lake sturgeon utilizing different areas of the Pic River or not entering the river at all; that larger and more mature lake sturgeon will undertake substantially further migrations compared to smaller lake sturgeon in order to gain access to higher quality foraging habitat; and, spawning migrations and spawning time were roughly 1 month earlier in 2010 when compared to data from 2008 and 2009.

A significant point of interest of the study was the capture and release of 13 lake sturgeon from the White River. According to Parks Canada, this was the first time lake sturgeon were confirmed in the White River (which runs through Pukaskwa National Park.)

Lake sturgeon is considered a threatened species by COSEWIC, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, and is included on Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. The government is currently considering it for listing under the federal Species at Risk Act.

Project Summary: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek Lake Surveys

Atikameksheng Anishnawbek is located west of Sudbury, Ontario and its current land base has eighteen lakes within its boundaries. It is also surrounded by eight other lakes. In 2004, the A/OFRC had previously completed lake surveys on three of those lakes: Whitefish Lake, Wakemi Lake and Nemag Lake. Atikameksheng Anishnawbek is currently working on developing a Fisheries Management Plan and hopes to add to the existing information by surveying Makada Lake, Lake La Vase, Cranberry Lake, Lost Lake and Lake Penache.

The study ran from August 3rd to September 3rd. The littoral zone and shoreline were characterized by mapping features such as; substrate composition, vegetation, bass nests, spawning shoals, shoreline slope, and existing shoreline development. As well, pictures were taken for every distinctively different section of shoreline.

 
Summer student Tom Stevens and Fisheries Biologist Intern Jenna MacLaurin record data for shoreline and littoral zone assessment on Lake Penache.

Makada Lake was the first lake assessed; four lake survey nets were set for 24 hours each. The four nets produced 89 yellow perch, 53 rainbow smelt, 10 rock bass, seven smallmouth bass, two bullheads, one common white sucker, and one northern pike. Ten minnow traps were set, and produced 5 sunfish, 4 rock bass, one young-of-the-year (YOY) smallmouth bass, and 6 yellow perch. The Secchi disc had read a depth of 5.0m. A surface pH reading read 7.66.

Lake La Vase was the second lake assessed. Four lake survey nets produced 41 brown bullhead 30 pumpkinseed, 11 northern pike, 10 smallmouth bass, 8 common white sucker, 6 blue gill, 5 yellow perch, 5 largemouth bass, and one rock bass. Seven minnow traps were set, and produced 14 pumpkinseed, 44 blue gill, two YOY largemouth bass, eight yellow perch, and six crayfish. A Secchi disc reading of 5.0m was recorded. A surface pH reading read 7.94.

 
A pumpkinseed x bluegill hybrid captured in a lake survey net in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek.

Cranberry Lake was the third lake assessed. Three lake survey nets produced 54 lake herring, 20 brown bullhead, 6 largemouth bass, 6 yellow perch, 5 common white suckers, 3 northern pike, 3 common shiner, 3 smallmouth bass, one blue gill, one rock bass, and one golden shiner. Six minnow traps were set, and produced one yellow perch, two blue gill, five smallmouth bass and one logperch. The Secchi disc read a depth of 4.5m. Lost Lake was the last lake assessed. Two lake survey nets produced 15 rock bass and 13 smallmouth bass. Five minnow traps were set, and produced no minnows or YOY. The Secchi Disc was used, and read a depth of 10.0m. A surface pH read 6.83.

BASS mapping was conducted and water samples were taken from all lakes except Lake Penache. For Lake Penache, only the shoreline and littoral zone on the reserve was mapped. The results of this study will include a series of three maps for each lake; shoreline habitat, littoral zone habitat and the lake contour map.

The project field work was conducted by A/OFRC staff Sarah Couchie, Jenna MacLaurin, and Tom Stevens. We would also like to acknowledge help received from Taylor Commanda and Heather Mandamin.

Project Summary: Mississagi River Sturgeon Assessment

 

Contract Fisheries Technician Tammy Desbiens, samples a lake sturgeon on the Mississagi River.

Mississauga #8 First Nation is located just east of Blind River, Ontario. The Mississagi River, which runs through the First Nation, is one of several sights on Lake Huron for spawning lake sturgeon. In July 2008, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) listed the lake sturgeon as a species at risk. The First Nation requested the help of the A/OFRC in understanding the data and rationalization of the OMNR’s decision.

The study to determine the status of the lake sturgeon population ran from July 21st to July 23rd. Normally, lake sturgeon assessments take place during the spawning period, which takes place in the spring. However, due to a species at risk permit issue, it was put off until July. In total, 24 nets were set, and one lake sturgeon was caught, sampled and released. An age sample was collected and is being sent to the agers. Data has not yet been analyzed as more netting is to be completed. The project field work was conducted by A/OFRC staff Sarah Couchie and Tammy Desbiens.

Project Summary: Jerry's Lake Habitat Assessment

Fisheries Technician Sarah Couchie lowers the Secchi disk into the lake to determine water transparency.

Jerry’s Lake was one of the many lake surveys and habitat mapping studies conducted by the A/OFRC this past summer. It is located on the Beausoleil First Nation and is one of two inland lakes. The other lake, Douglas Lake, had been previously surveyed in 2009. This year’s study ran from July 28th to 30th. The littoral zone and shoreline were characterized by mapping features such as; substrate composition, vegetation, bass nests, spawning shoals, shoreline slope, and existing shoreline development. Two lake survey nets were also set in the lake for 24 hours. The first net produced 28 brown bullheads while the second net produced 47 brown bullheads. Five minnow traps were set, none of which produced any minnows or young of the year fish. The lake was then BASS mapped; where no locations were deeper than 2m, the sunlight was able to reach the bottom of the whole lake. The secchi disc read a depth of 1.75m, which is how deep it was when it touched bottom. Water samples were also taken from this lake for further analysis. The results of this study will include a series of three maps; shoreline habitat, littoral zone habitat and the lake contour map. If you would like further information, contact Fisheries Technician Sarah Couchie.

Project Summary: West Bay Fish Community Index Netting

Tom Stephens, Tammy Desbiens and Stacey McKee work together perfectly to retreive fish from the index nets used in the West Bay FCIN.

Local subsistence harvesters from the M’Chigeeng First Nation had noticed a dramatic decline in West Bay fish populations, and believe there to be an increase in non-Native commercial fishing cormorant populations. As a result, a fish community index netting project was implemented to confirm this decline. The 2010 Fish Community Index Netting project was completed the week of July 12-16th. Fourteen overnight net sets were completed. Net sets were placed so as not to overlap with the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit’s Clapperton Island Offshore Index Netting. A total of 343 fish were fully biologically sampled including rainbow trout, lake and round whitefish, walleye, lake trout, Atlantic salmon and lake herring. 264 fish were measured just for fork length including burbot, suckers, rainbow smelt, perch, rock bass, and alewife. Surface water temperatures ranged from 17 - 23°C. A FCIN was previously completed in West Bay in 2006.

Project Summary: Five Mile Bay and Menominee Channel ESTN

The A/OFRC in support with the Wasauksing First Nation carried out an End of Spring Trap Netting (ESTN) project in Five Mile Bay and Menominee Channel, Georgian Bay. Wasauksing First Nation is located on Parry Island consisting of approximately 125 km of shoreline along eastern Georgian Bay, west of Parry Sound, Ontario. In recent years, members of Wasauksing First Nation have noticed an increase in shoreline development, a decrease in the quality of habitat available to fish species as well as an increase in the catch of rainbow trout that are suspected to have originated from a local aquaculture facility. The concerns by the members of the Wasauksing First Nation prompted this fisheries study, aimed at assessing the status of the walleye population and gathering data from the fish community.

An ESTN is a live release trap netting project that is geared towards gathering biological data from walleye to develop relative abundance measures and to assess the status of the walleye population. During this project, there were a total of 19 standard six foot trap nets set during a span of seven days. Each net was set for 20-24 hours. Initially, a target of 30 net sets was established. However, due to the deep nature of Georgian Bay and the physical characteristics of the Canadian Shield, it was challenging to find the appropriate depth for six foot trap nets, to stay within the parameters of the study. Out of the 30 sites chosen, only 19 were suitable for six foot trap nets.

Biological data collected included fork length, total length, weight, ageing structures (i.e. scales and the 3rd dorsal spine) and sex and maturity (if possible). Data was collected from walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, muskellunge and northern pike. All other species were tallied by fork length. Smallmouth and largemouth bass made up the highest proportion of the catch, followed by longnose gar and channel catfish. No walleye were captured during this project.
A summary of catch results from the Five Mile Bay and Menominee Channel ESTN project, Wasauksing First Nation, 2010.

A more detailed report has been drafted.