The A/OFRC's 2012 Fishing & The Future Art Contest Calendar is available for free! All calendars feature inspiring artwork by Anishinabek youth; and include valuable on-the-water tips, moons, and all holidays.
Email mpeltier@aofrc.org or call (705) 472-7888 extension 8 for your copy today!
At the request of Wahnapitae First Nation, the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre (A/OFRC) has completed a second Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) project on Lake Wanapitei. The first FWIN project was completed in the fall of 2004. FWIN projects are conducted in five year intervals to gain trend information on Walleye (Sander vitreus). Results of the 2004 FWIN project stated that the Walleye of Lake Wanapitei were in a stressed condition. This was concluded from a low abundance of Walleye: a catch-per-unit-effort (CUE) of 4.18 Walleye/net. At the time, the Walleye population was dominated by young, fast growing, and early maturing fish.
Both FWIN projects followed standardized methods (Fall Walleye Index Netting Manual of Instructions (Morgan 2002)) employing gill nets set in two separate depth strata (2-5m and 5-15m). Nets were set when the surface water temperature was between 10 and 15°C. Based on its surface area (18,837 ha - one of the largest inland lakes in the province), the minimum number of net sets for Lake Wanapitei was 48. In 2011, 49 net sets were completed.
The main objective of the 2011 FWIN was to assess the relative abundance of Walleye and determine whether or not improvements existed. Preliminary results show that there has been a decline in the Walleye CUE (1.61 Walleye/net) (Table 1).
Table 1. A preliminary comparison of CUE data (2004 & 2011) on Lake Wanapitei.
Information gathered through this project will be generated into a technical report and compared to the 2004 FWIN data. A report of this data will be released to the First Nation and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) as it becomes available.
Fisheries Technicians Peter Meness and Art Trudeau pull in a SPIN net on Memesagamesing Lake.
The A/OFRC and Dokis First Nation completed a Summer Profundal Index Netting (SPIN) project that was aimed at assessing the status of the Lake Trout population in Memesagamesing Lake. The northern section of Memesagamesing Lake lies within the boundaries of Dokis First Nation.
A crew from the A/OFRC completed bathymetric mapping to determine the surface area of each target depth stratum (i.e. 10-20, 20-30 and 30-40m). Based on the surface area and the number of Lake Trout captured in each depth stratum, the SPIN Support Spreadsheet (provided by the Muskoka Lakes Fisheries Assessment Unit), calculated the number of net sets required to meet the 0.15 relative standard error (RSE) target. Each day as Lake Trout were captured the fork length of each Lake Trout was entered into the Support Spreadsheet. A combination of fork lengths for Lake Trout captured in each depth strata and the surface area of each depth strata was used by the Support Spreadsheet to calculate the relative standard error; and generated the number of net sets required for each depth strata for the following day’s effort.
Between August 8th and 12th, a total of 36 standardized SPIN gill nets were randomly set throughout Memesagamesing Lake in all depth strata. Nets were set for approximately 2 hours between 8:00am and 5:00pm. A total of 133 fish were captured that included 16 Lake Trout and 23 Lake Whitefish. The target relative standard error value was not reached during the study. It was not feasible to continue the project to meet the target RSE. There are few Lake Trout in Memesagamesing Lake and potentially killing more Lake Trout would not benefit the project or the overall Lake Trout population. The data analysis and recommendations will be provided in a report that will be available later in the year.
GOAL: The goal of this workshop is so that participants gain an understanding of different fisheries assessment techniques and when they should be applied. The participant will gain experience in: project design and methodology, the identification of fish species, biological sampling protocols, and how to interpret fisheries data.
PRESENTED BY: Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre (A/OFRC)
CONTENT: A/OFRC staff will present information on: types of fisheries assessment gear, standardized fisheries assessment protocols, biological sampling methods, and data analysis and interpretation. A local lake will be used as a case study, so that participants will experience the total process: project design, field work, and data analysis.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Natural resources personnel who are employed by First Nation offices, or community members who are interested in this field of work.
REGISTRATION: To register please contact Kim Tremblay no later than October 7th, 2011 (contact information below). Workshop size will be limited to 20 participants.
FORMAT: A full two day workshop (9:00 -4:30) to be held in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation at the Band Office located at 25 Reserve Road Naughton, Ontario. Much of the workshop will be interactive discussions and hands-on field work. Please dress accordingly and be prepared to work outside in all weather conditions (i.e. closed toed shoes or rubber boots, hat, rain suit, gloves). Safety gear (i.e. life jackets) will be provided.
COST: There is no fee for this workshop, but participants must fund their own travel.
MEALS: We will provide lunches Wednesday & Thursday on site.
The Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre (A/OFRC) is conducting a Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) project on Lake Wanapitei commencing October 3, 2011 and running until October 14th, 2011. The FWIN will follow provincial standards documented in the Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) Manual of Instructions (Morgan 2002). This project will implement gill netting in two separate depth strata (2-5m and 5-15m) at randomly chosen locations.
The main objective of this FWIN is to assess current relative abundance and other biological information on the Walleye (Sander vitreus) of Lake Wanapitei. The information gathered from this project will be analyzed and compared to previous Lake Wanapitei FWIN data (2004). A report of this data will be released to the First Nation and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) as it becomes available.
The A/OFRC is a not for profit organization that serves as an independent source of information. The Centre provides information and advice on sustainable fisheries management, and reports on stock status, evaluates fish populations and habitats and offers management recommendations.
Serpent River First Nation, with support from the Anishinabek/ Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre (A/OFRC), is conducting a Fish Habitat Assessment project on Marshland, Grandeur and Depot Lakes. The purpose of the project is to collect and assess fish habitat data in these lakes and to monitor changes in the habitat over time. The data may also be used in future management decisions.
A crew of three staff from Serpent River First Nation started the project on July 11th and the project will extend until early September. The data that is being collected includes substrate and vegetation data, as well as any shoreline development. Data from species within the fish community will also be collected using gill nets, seine nets and minnow traps.
The crew has completed Marshland Lake and Grandeur Lake and are currently working on Depot Lake.
The A/OFRC was pleased to have been able to assist the members of Whitefish River First Nation (WRFN) on another subsequent Walleye (Sander vitreus) tagging project. Aside from WRFN and the A/OFRC’s contribution to aid in the recovery of the Walleye population of Whitefish Falls, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) have also been contributing to a proactive approach in assisting to provide this fish population the best chance of success. Together the OMNR, WRFN and the A/OFRC have completed a 2001 and 2003 Spring Walleye Index Netting (SWIN) project subsequently tagging 1,251 Walleye from both projects.
Gaining information on the health of the spawning Walleye population greatly assists in helping the Walleye population rebuild. This is achieved by allowing updated information to be relayed to the general public. A 2004 study conducted by the A/OFRC of the Walleye spawning area(s) on the Whitefish River identified three areas where spawning Walleye were present, and through the most recent study of spawning Walleye (2011 SWIN), this river continues to prove as an excellent spawning ground for this species. Through the previous studies, and the current 2011 SWIN that successfully tagged 908 Walleye (with the greater portion of tagged Walleye being male), the Whitefish River Walleye population appears to be increasing in numbers since the reportedly ¨very low numbers in the 1980 due to a variety of factors¨ (OMNR 2001, 2003), although slightly less than the 2001 SWIN where 916 Walleye were tagged, but significantly higher than the 2003 SWIN where only 335 Walleye were tagged.
As Walleye are captured in trap nets (designed for live release), biological information such as; fork length, total length, weight, sex (determined through milt or emission) were collected. Also, ageing structures (second dorsal spine, and scales from beside the left pectoral fin) were taken. This sampling information allows for comparison studies to be completed. Comparison studies calculate male to female ratio, Catch per Unit Effort (CUE), age classes present in captured population, and size to age ratio. For a healthy population there would need to be a healthy male to female ratio, a healthy CUE and many age classes present. Information pertaining to the 2011 SWIN will soon be released in a formal report and delivered to the First Nation as it becomes available.
The A/OFRC is asking people in the area of the Whitefish River to report any fish caught that have been tagged to (705) 472-7888. This allows the A/OFRC to know how many Walleye have been removed and the fish’s travel distance. Information to include, if possible, would be the fork or total lengths so that we can determine growth.
At the request of Magnetawan First Nation, the A/OFRC has completed a habitat assessment on the portion of the Magnetawan River that resides on First Nation land. It was the intentions of Magnetawan First Nation to gather as much information pertaining to the Walleye (Sander vitreus) habitat as possible. Magnetawan First Nation is in the process of establishing a habitat rehabilitation project that includes the Eastern Georgian Bay Stewardship Council. Although the A/OFRC will not be involved in any portion of the rehabilitation project, we were pleased to assist Magnetawan First Nation in the completion of the basis of their endeavours. A formal report including maps created from the data obtained from this mapping project will be completed by October 2011.
In order to complete a habitat assessment the shoreline and littoral zone (where light penetrates to allow plant growth) were surveyed to describe habitat characteristics such as: substrate composition, vegetation, bass nests, spawning shoals, shoreline slope, and existing shoreline development. These surveys were conducted by cruising along the shore in a boat, and recording UTM coordinated from a hand held Garmin GPS when the substrate changed. The depth information was collected using the GPSMAP 431 Garmin. Once the data is collected, it is then transferred to an ArcView computer program that can generate a depth contour map. Bathymetry maps are useful for determining average depths, and available fish habitat.
During the heat wave of the summer, AOFRC crews were taking inventory of the habitat on the Lower French River. From July 16th until July 27th the field crew collected information on shoreline and littoral zone (where light penetrates to allow plant growth) to describe habitat characteristics such as: substrate composition, vegetation, spawning shoals, shoreline slope, and existing shoreline development. These surveys were conducted by cruising along the shore in a boat, and recording UTM coordinates from a hand held Garmin GPS. This information will later be imported into ArcGIS to create different value maps. Randy Restoule, Dokis First Nation’s Community & Economic Development Officer, will be providing orthographic photography for this area which will aid in the creation of the maps. Randy will also be instrumental in the development of the fish habitat management plan that will utilize these maps. This plan will address concerns surrounding an increase in waterfront development, and other development proposals, like the Okikendawt Hydro Project. In addition, Dokis First Nation is expected to complete a Fisheries Habitat Protection Policy by 2014 and this project could help in the decision making process by providing an inventory of the current fish habitat.
We were fortunate to have Drew Stonehouse, Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program Manager, from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans accompany us for a day. After a brief presentation of the methods, data management, and products, he was able to go out in the field to gain some hands on experience collecting habitat data on the French River. The Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program (AIHP) provides funding to Aboriginal groups in the inland provinces to enhance participation in the long term management of fish habitat. The goal is to have more informed decisions about the management of fish habitat. Likewise, the A/OFRC and Dokis First Nation share this goal.
