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Measuring the State of Fish

Measuring the State of Fish. Measuring the State of Fish. There are many human stressors that impact a fish community and specific fish species such as: fishing, habitat loss, invasive species (exotic & range extensions), pollution

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Measuring the State of Fish

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  1. Measuring the State of Fish

  2. Measuring the State of Fish • There are many human stressors that impact a fish community and specific fish species such as: fishing, habitat loss, invasive species (exotic & range extensions), pollution • MNR utilizes standard netting surveys to measure fish status and some invasive species

  3. Measuring the State of Fish • Other surveys are carried out to measure the stressors such as: • Creel surveys to measure fishing pressure • Water testing to measure pollution, chemical habitat availability (O2, temp, N, P etc.) and invasive species • Physical habitat mapping to identify spawning & nursery limitations/opportunities

  4. Measuring the State of Fish:Standard Netting Surveys • benefits • A means of controlling some variables in nature and hopefully measuring them • Reduce sampling bias • Can directly compare results year to year and across different lakes measured using the same standard technique • Standard criteria • Gear size, material, dimensions, configuration • Timing (water temperature, thermal stratification) • Number of sets per lake and set duration • Random selection of sites meeting standard criteria • Net orientation to shore and/or depth contours • Gear depth • Minimum net separation distances and duration between reuse of sites

  5. Measuring the State of Fish: Standard Netting Surveys • There are two main types of gear utilized in lakes • Gill nets • Trap nets

  6. Measuring the State of Fish:Other standard & non-standard gear • Standard electro- fishing protocol developed for streams • Other non-standard gear that are useful in certain situations include: seine nets, hoop nets, minnow traps, dip nets, electrofishing boats

  7. Measuring the State of Fish:Pros & Cons of Gill Nets vs Trap Nets

  8. Measuring the State of Fish:Pros & Cons of Gill Nets vs Trap Nets

  9. Measuring the State of Fish:Standard Netting Surveys

  10. Measuring the State of Fish: Standard Netting Surveys

  11. Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fishing] Surveys • Provides: • estimates of fishing effort, catch rates & total harvest by species • Angler origins & visitor types (daytrip, cottage, paid guest, non-pd guest etc) • Size, weight, age of harvested fish (if collected)

  12. Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fishing] Surveys • 4 main types of creel surveys: • Roving • on the lake counting boats and talking to them • Good for lakes where boats heading out from numerous locations • Often incomplete fishing trip information, used to estimate a complete trip • Access • Interviewing anglers as they leave the lake from access point(s) • Good for lakes where boats heading out from few locations • Get complete fishing trip information, less estimation required • Voluntary logs • Books or forms handed out ahead of time to anglers • Biased results if all large cross section of anglers don’t participate or only fill out for successful trips • Works best with participation incentives and/or on-lake coordinator • Aerial boat counts • Boats counted from aircraft • Only gives estimate of fishing effort • Cost of aircraft can be prohibitive

  13. Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fishing] Surveys • Creel design: • Final estimates are derived from “snap-shot” samples obtained throughout a survey period • Survey periods experience fluctuating levels of fishing effort, catch rate, harvest etc. depending upon: • Season: spring open fishing seasons, summer vacation, fall, winter • Day type: weekday vs weekend • Period: morning, midday, evening; walleye lakes experience three periods whereas lake trout & bass lakes one or two • Area or lake basins: for larger lakes to ensure boat counts are completed in 30-50 minutes • Need “snap-shot” samples on 2-3 occasions, regardless of weather (rain or shine), for each combination of the above

  14. Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fish] Surveys How to conduct a roving creel survey On randomly chosen sample day: • Boat around the lake [basin] and count boats that are fishing, don’t stop to interview during counts, should complete in 30-50 minutes • Interview as many fishing boats as possible. Introduce yourself & ask if they’d mind answering a few quick questions: • What time did you start fishing today? • Are you staying on the lake, if so, where? • Where do you live? • What are you fishing for today? • Have you caught anything? (record all species caught, often need to prompt for other species) • Have you kept anything? If yes, and you are sampling this boat • Do you mind if we take lengths, weights and scales from your fish? Plan to carry out two boat counts and 1-2 interview periods per sample day

  15. Measuring the State of Fish:SAFETY FIRST! • Volunteer agreement forms cover those listed on the form: • Volunteers do not qualify for workplace safety & insurance benefits • MNR has purchased Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policy on behalf of volunteers • Ontario General Liability Protection Program protects volunteers from suits arising through injury caused to another person or another person’s property while performing duties listed on volunteer agreement form • Volunteers dealing with the public will carry volunteer identification provided by MNR

  16. Measuring the State of Fish:SAFETY FIRST! • The Min. of Labour & Transport Canada require certain safety training & equipment is provided & on board: • Safety kit: Cell phone kept in waterproof container, buoyant throw rope (15m+), working flashlight, flares, fire extinguisher, whistle or some other sounding device, bailing bucket, map of lake, running lights if on lake ½ after sunset or before sunrise • Let someone know where you will be and expected time off lake • All boat operators must have a Pleasure Craft Operators Card • One approved personal flotation device per passenger • One paddle or an anchor with 15m+ cable, rope or chain • Dry land Man-Over-Board training & dry land putting on PFD in water training • Reminder to stay off or get off the lake if thunderstorms are approaching or other weather conditions such as high winds make it unsafe

  17. How Can Stewardship Councils and Other Partners Get Involved ? • There is reimbursement funding available ($500-$2500) through the Community Fisheries & Wildlife Involvement Fund (CFWIP) to cover: Equipment & supplies • Deadline to apply is February 1st • Applications and guidelines available from your district office

  18. CFWIP • CFWIP $ cannot be utilized to pay wages (except for heavy equipment operator costs) • Work must be completed by volunteers • Funding provided after submission of receipts for equipment and materials (applicants must be willing to initially cover purchasing costs) • Equipment purchased with CFWIP $’s is OMNR property and may be returned to OMNR upon completion of project • OMNR staff available to meet with stewardship councils to provide project ideas and technical guidance

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