What’s New at Blue Fish Canada

The fall hasn’t all been about spending time at the Blue Fish Exploration Centre. The team also managed to take part in numerous conferences such as the St. Lawrence River Institute for Environmental Science’s annual Science Symposium. It was while attending the 3-day Symposium in Cornwall Ontario that we met the producers of the new TV Ontario 3-part series “All Too Clear”. The series explores the underwater worlds of the Great Lakes using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped with all manner of thrusters, lights and cameras. You can find links to the podcast and the videos, as well as the rest of the fishing, fish and habitat news immediately following the below editorial on aquatic research and the role anglers can serve as stewards of aquatic ecosystems.

This Week’s Feature – Stewarding Shoreline Habitat

By L. Gunther

I recently spent the day listening to dozens of young researchers present their findings during an on-line symposium organized by Dr. Steven Cooke from Carleton University. I’m impressed by the sheer number of enthusiastic brilliant scientists dedicating their careers to sorting out the link between our impact on fish habitat and its dependent aquatic life. Maybe it’s Canada’s abundant shoreline that’s motivating their career choice, or could it be they already know just how much we have impacted the animals that make Canada’s lakes, rivers and oceans their home? Either way, it’s clear that there’s so much more to discover about our impacts on nature and what we are doing – wrong or right.

I found the research findings on the detrimental impacts of boat wakes interesting. Anglers constantly monitor for dangerous boat wakes when on the water – especially when it involves kayak fishing. Thanks to weather apps, staying out of the paths of storms is far easier to manage than it is to prepare for dangerous wakes that can arrive with little warning. You learn from experience which bodies of water to avoid because of large cruisers and wake boats even if it means limiting weekend fishing on popular lakes to the early morning hours. Large powerful pleasure boats aren’t the only watercraft causing shoreline erosion.

A friend recently had his shoreline on the St. Lawrence re-planted with native species, only to have everything swept away within days thanks to Great Lakes lakers and mega-container ships. It left him feeling helpless, but thankfully not driven to install shoreline hardening materials such as concrete.

Anyone who fishes from a boat can tell you that each boat has its unique wake characteristics. Pleasure boats alter between displacement and plaining depending on the speed. Slow enough and a boat’s displacement of water isn’t a problem, but for many boats this ideal speed is far less than the 10 MPH speed limit posted along most “no wake” zones.

Anglers who fish tournaments are interested in getting to their fishing spots ahead of their competition which means purchasing fishing boats capable of travelling at speeds in excess of 80 kph. At speed these boats produce almost no wake as only a very small segment measuring about 40 cm in length spanning the width of the boat just ahead of the transom is actually in contact with the water. However, every boat capable of achieving plane generates considerable wake during that 5-10 second increment when achieving or coming back down off plane.

Most anglers operate their boats at fuel-efficient speeds calculated by comparing distance travelled with fuel consumption. Such fuel efficiency can only be achieved while on plane when the boat is no longer displacing water. Conversely, requiring boat operators to navigate long stretches of “no wake” zones at speeds that require boats to displace water and consume considerable amounts of fuel seems counterproductive, especially since these same boats then rapidly increase or decrease speed just outside these zones as they achieve or drop back down off plane. Maybe we should be researching the shoreline erosion that takes place just outside no wake zones. Also, might it not make more sense to establish zones where boaters are expected to transition between displacing water and traveling on plane?

Most fishing takes place either at anchor, or when trolling, which produces almost no wake due to trolling speeds ranging between 1.5 and 4 kph. Anglers also now use a secondary electric motor for maneuvering their boats while fishing at a chosen location or trolling, which produces no discernable wake and accounts for well over 90% of time spent on the water.

The most popular style of boat sold in Canada for the past ten years is the pontoon boat. While these boats are technically displacement watercraft, the fact that they use two and sometimes three sponsons, or logs or pontoon – all three terms apply, they produce very little wake at any speed. Their neutral impact on shorelines is due to very little of the boat being below the surface of the water, which is the same reason why they don’t make great boats for fishing. because they ride so high on the water and displace so little, they get pushed around a lot by even the slightest wind, which makes staying on top of your fishing spots a challenge.

Cabin cruisers and cargo vessels are primarily displacement vessels regardless of how fast they travel. They depend on powerful engines to push through water at any speed. Without doubt they produce very significant wakes, which makes them not only destructive to shoreline vegetation and soil stability, but unpleasant and occasionally dangerous to be around when aboard smaller watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, and even most fishing boats.

Wakes produced by large displacement vessels are every angler’s greatest threat to their staying afloat. I’ve personally experienced more than once the bow of my boat actually dipping below the surface when descending the back of a large vessel’s wake. Traversing such wakes at speed can also throw an angler from their seat, cause fishing equipment to be ejected, and even result in your boat “spearing” a wave and flipping. For those in paddle craft, fishing among large boat wakes is uncomfortable, occasionally frightening, and most certainly dangerous if not managed by properly positioning yourself and your paddle craft prior to passing over large wakes.

More recently, people have begun purchasing wake boats to experience wake boarding, water skiing and tubing. These are moderate sized boats with wide and deep hulls meant to displace as much water as possible regardless of speed. In fact, pushing water is so important that some of these boats include internal tanks designed to hold additional water so the boat sits deeper and displaces even more water. The size of wakes generated are literally forcing small watercraft off the water. All this to say, anglers are very aware of boat wakes, but do we truly understand how boat wakes impact nature?

Experienced anglers frequently encounter shorelines that have been impacted by erosion, and know what forms of shoreline armoring provides fish habitat and which does not. We’ve even figured out when these different shoreline armaments are likely to hold fish.

Concrete walls are almost pointless to fish along unless the wind is pushing the baitfish against the wall allowing predators to take advantage of their prey’s inability to flee from their attack. But these episodes are wind dependent, and don’t normally last long since prey fish will leave the area the instant the onshore wind abates.

Rock contained within wire cages and stacked along the shore can provide small baitfish with thousands of small cavities between the rocks for use as cover. Larger predators have figured out where their prey is hiding, as have we anglers. Catching these predators entails casting right up to these walls where feeding predators can often be found.

When massive boulders the size of washing machines are used to strengthen shoreline, it usually means there are large waves, powerful currents and winter ice that necessitate such drastic hardening measures. They make for dangerous shorelines for anglers to linger alongside due to the water conditions associated with such armament, but they too can provide prey cover and attract predators, depending on wind and current.

But perhaps the most promising shorelines sought out by anglers are those that are truly natural. And by this, I mean lots of lily pads, strong weed growth right next to deeper water, or even better, trees that have fallen into the water. These shores are popular spaces for fish of all sizes. There’s plenty of food and cover for all concerned. Unfortunately, these are also the types of shorelines that many property owners feel compelled to “clean up”.

Anglers know that 10% of the water is home to 90% of the fish, and its natural shorelines that hold the most fish. It’s important to understand that when I say shoreline, I’m not referring to the shore where it meets water. As an angler, I’m far more concerned with the aspect of the shore that starts where water meets land, and finishes when water depth no longer supports weed growth due to insufficient light penetration.

Think about the reflection of land on the water, and that’s the landscape upon which anglers focus. We can’t necessarily see it through the “mirage”, but we figure it out using our lures for detecting and transmitting details about underwater structure, bathometric maps that detail the bottom’s topography, GPS devices for locating and returning to such spots, and underwater images produced by our sonar devices. Given that every river and lake is surrounded by shoreline, it’s experience that teaches us how to locate the spots “within the spot” that actually hold fish. It’s this local knowledge that anglers closely guard.

Whether man-made fish habitat, or that created by nature, each year things change. The fact is anglers are often at a loss to understand why the same spot at the same time of year no longer seems to hold fish. It’s easy to assume that the number of fish in the body of water have decreased, but more often we figure out that it’s simply the case that fish have moved on to other areas of the river or lake that have evolved to offer predators more promising foraging opportunities. This poses considerable challenges to those conducting fishery research based on sampling methodologies spread over a number of seasons. It’s why local knowledge about fish movement is crucial to such research even if it does introduce added complexity.

At the same time, there’s increasingly less quality fishing spots around, especially if you live in large urban areas and your fishing takes place within a several hour drive. People are spreading out from the cities and suburbs, and so are our negative impacts on the quality of fishing due to the loss of fish habitat. No doubt, the downturn in fishing also has to do with increases in fishing pressure, even if the number of people who fish recreationally has been slowly decreasing over time.

Anglers are getting better at what we do, have access to better technology, and are capable of sharing fishing reports in real time thanks to social media. The fact is, when anglers view the photographs shared by other anglers, it’s the landmarks we are most interested in, and whether or not the photograph includes geospatial information. Thankfully, the vast majority of Canada’s sport fish are protected simply by virtue of their proximity to population centers.

As for those water bodies that can be easily accessed by weekend anglers, knowing exactly how habitat is being threatened and what needs to change to reduce these threats is the first step to safeguarding the fish and their habitat. This is especially the case with the Great Lakes, the most valuable freshwater fishery in the world.

Recent news from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission is heartening with respect to lake trout in lakes Superior and Huron having now been fully restored. None of this could have happened without a concerted scientific effort. It would be nice to know just how much local and traditional knowledge contributed to this remarkable recovery.

There’s growing acceptance among scientists and regulators alike that engaging community science is essential if we are to achieve more such successes in future, especially given the increased number and frequency of threats to biodiversity. It’s up to us anglers to gather and share data and knowledge and to take greater stewardship responsibility for applying the best practices that come from our participation in such research. Now is not the time to doggedly stick to past practices when we know we can do better, especially given the many new fish-finding and capture technologies now at our disposal.

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

How changing catch-and-release fishing practices can boost salmon survival / Chek News
The research, which involved tagging and tracking more than 1,500 salmon off B.C.’s coast, found injuries to eyes, fins and scales reduced survival rates for chinook by 15 to 20 per cent within 10 days of release.

“Catch, Kiss, & Cook!”  Tackles Invasive Carp / FishingWire
Wildlife Forever, wants your carp fish pictures. Along with Yamaha Righwaters, the two conservation partners are launching “Catch, Kiss, & Cook!” national social media photo contest. Invasive carp include bighead, black, silver and grass carp. Catch: Head to your local waterways and start catching invasive carp. Check out this video for tips on landing the big one. Kiss: Snap a photo of yourself giving your catch a “kiss” (or whatever you’re comfortable doing). Cook: Find a recipe – some ideas can be found here – and share a photo of your prepared dish. Get your Iron Chef face on. Submit your photos and stories on social media using the hashtag #CatchKissCook for a chance to win exciting prizes.

From Hook To Release: How Gear Can Make A Difference For Fish Survival / Fishing Wire
Your odds of success on the water can hinge on the gear you use, and the same principle applies when it comes to releasing fish. From not meeting size requirements to being caught out of season, there are many reasons why you might land a fish that you’ll need to release.

Dan Tack Muskie Catch & Release Tournament / STR
The Annual Dan Tack Muskie Catch & Release Tournament is almost closed. Anglers have until December 15th to send Save The River a photo of their muskie catches from the 2024 season. Every angler who submits to the tournament will receive a free Michael Ringer print, titled Sovereign, for participating. The winner will be announced at the 36th Annual Winter Environmental Conference on January 25th, 2025 in Clayton, NY. Data collected from this tournament, including weight and size of the muskie, is share with Dr. John Farrell and the ESF Thousand Islands Biological Station. In order to be eligible for the grand prize, anglers must demonstrate proper handling of the muskie and successfully release the muskie back into the St. Lawrence.

Government of Canada announces more than $1.4 million to help preserve marine resources and support the fishing industry in the Magdalen Islands / CNW Newswire
This funding will help create opportunities and improve the market value of sustainably harvested, high-quality fish and seafood in Quebec. 

Fish farming industry is using ‘misleading’ figures to downplay its role in overfishing, new research finds / DeSmog
High demand for wild-caught species to feed farmed salmon and other fish is taking nutritious food away from low-income communities in the Global South.

Alaska salmon fishery objection dismissal ‘seriously undermines’ Marine Stewardship Council’s credibility / Watershed Watch Salmon Society
Southeast Alaska’s troll and net fisheries intercept significant percentages of salmon heading to rivers in B.C., yet they hold Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification despite harming endangered salmon, steelhead, and Southern Resident killer whales. On October 29, an independent adjudicator dismissed a request to have the fishery’s MSC certification removed, allowing the fishery to retain its eco-label. “This decision is deeply misleading,” said SkeenaWild fisheries biologist Kaitlin Yehle. “This fishery intercepts millions of salmon from at-risk populations, lacks basic bycatch handling and monitoring standards, and should not be marketed as sustainable.”

Sask.’s cold-water fish is making waves on the European market / PINEHOUSE LAKE
Once the temperature drops, the fishing industry heats up in a small village in northern Saskatchewan thanks to the tullibee and after five years it’s still going strong.

Fish:

Once nearly wiped out, the lake trout declared ‘fully recovered’ in Lake Superior / Journal Sentinel
Decades of fisheries management programs led to huge improvement in the number of lake trout, which were nearly wiped out in the Great Lakes. The recovery of this keystone species from near extirpation to the healthy, self-sustaining population was achieved through a multi-decade and multi-jurisdictional Herculean effort that required an unprecedented amount of coordination, resources, and commitment.

Study reveals elevated mercury levels in fish associated with zebra mussel invasions / University of Minnesota
Researchers compared mercury concentrations of fish collected from lakes with and without zebra mussels and sampled water, zooplankton, invertebrates and fish from both nearshore and open water zones. They analyzed the data to provide critical insights into fish mercury concentrations, diets and habitat use. The groundbreaking study found that invasive zebra mussels significantly alter aquatic ecosystems, and are associated with elevated mercury concentrations in fish. Mercury, a potent neurotoxin, poses a serious threat to both aquatic life and human health.

Fighting to keep grass carp out of the Great Lakes / Narwhal
Invasive Grass Carp have been caught off the coast of nearby Point Pelee National Park, Rondeau Provincial Park and elsewhere in Canadian waters. There are breeding populations of grass carp on the American side of Lake Erie. But collaboration between American and Canadian governments, research institutions and local communities have kept the species from gaining a strategic foothold.

Fish On Prozac: Psychiatric Drug Pollution May Harm Wild fish / Forbes
Antidepressants like prozac (fluoxetine) have helped millions of people around the world, but studies show they may be harming wildlife and wild fish.

Millions up for grabs to fight invasive species in Ontario / ISC
Ontario’s Invasive Species Centre has announced a new round of funding for on-the-ground management and monitoring of critical invasive plants, aquatics and forest pests.

Fisheries Research Overestimates Fish Stocks / ScienceDaily.Com
The state of fish stocks in the world’s ocean is worse than previously thought. While overfishing has long been blamed on fisheries policies that set catch limits higher than scientific recommendations, a new study reveals that even these scientific recommendations were often too optimistic. The result? Far more global fish stocks are overfished or have collapsed than we thought.

Blood in the water / Watershed Sentinel
The majority of Atlantic salmon sold in B.C. tested positive for PRV. This means millions of Atlantic salmon along the B.C. Coast have the virus.

Urban salmon return to Metro Vancouver streams to spawn and inspire recovery efforts / Vernon Matters
Efforts to rehabilitate urban waterways have helped bring spawning salmon back to parts of Metro Vancouver, including unlikely-looking streams surrounded by industrial and residential development.

The Rough Fish Revolution / Hakai
Fisheries scientists are only now coming to understand the important roles native “rough fish” play in freshwater ecosystems across North America—even as these long-maligned species are increasingly at risk.

Vancouver Island salmon return ‘one of the best in 20 years’ / Victoria News
Watershed Watch’s senior fisheries advisor Greg Taylor weighs in on this year’s salmon returns.

Back in fashion: Orcas in the wild wearing dead salmon hats / Straits Times
Experts say it may just be a “fad” that has emerged as the whales find more time to goof around.

Campbell River conservation organization equipment vandalized / Campbell River Mirror
The vandalism of equipment this fall has significantly disrupted a local conservation organization’s research efforts, preventing them from obtaining an accurate count of coho salmon in the Campbell River watershed during the fall run.

Habitat:

Feds pledge record $76M for freshwater projects / Windsor Star
The federal government announced a “historic” $76 million in new funding for freshwater restoration on the Great Lakes, with investments targeted toward improving water quality and ecosystem health, as well as community-based science projects.

Watershed data comes to life with new tool / e-know.ca
Living Lakes Canada’s Columbia Basin Water Hub is launching a new visualization tool that transforms water data into meaningful visuals, supporting informed decision-making and community climate adaptation efforts.

Ontario’s Nottawasaga river is getting a renewed lease on life thanks to massive community effort
Known simply as the “Notty” among locals, the Nottawasaga river is a prime destination for anglers drawn to its renowned trout and salmon runs. With these wild fish reaching many of the river’s tributaries it would appear to be a self-sustaining fish factory, effortlessly replenishing itself.

Newly Published Research By MSU Scientists Shows How Low Levels Of Water Contamination Impact Fish Behavior And Survival / canr.msu.edu
A research team spearheaded by Michigan State University scientists has recently published findings in two journals detailing the impacts low levels of water contamination have on the behavior, simulated growth and survival of fish. The studies were published in Environmental Science & Technology and Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

All-Night Lights Change The Behavior Of Fish, Even Into The Next Generation / ScienceDaily.Com
Scientists have shown that light pollution — especially light in the blue spectrum — can alter the behavior of fish after only a few nights, and have knock-on effects for their offspring.

The Estuary Smothered by a Thousand Logs / Hakai
For decades, scientists have known that allowing the timber industry to store logs in estuaries kills marine life. So why does British Columbia still permit it?

Car tyres shed a quarter of all microplastics in the environment – urgent action is needed / The Conversation
Tiny flakes of plastic, generated by the wear and tear of normal driving, eventually accumulate in the soil, in rivers and lakes, and even in our food.

Canada strengthens protection of freshwater with launch of standalone Canada Water Agency / Canada.Ca
Canada announces the establishment of the Canada Water Agency as a standalone federal entity headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Agency will provide freshwater policy expertise and lead the development of a national freshwater data strategy, which will make it easier for Canadians to make informed decisions impacting their environment, economy, health, and safety. The Canada Water Agency will administer freshwater funding programs in eight waterbodies of national significance: the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, Lake Simcoe, the St. Lawrence River, the Mackenzie River, the Fraser River, and the Wolastoq/Saint John River.

Enhancing Science and Management Capabilities to Support Climate-Ready Fisheries / NOAA
The NOAA is investing $40 million in the Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative, a cross-NOAA effort to provide decision-makers with the early warnings, risk assessments, strategies, and advice they need to increase resilience and adaptation of marine resources and resource-dependent communities to changing oceans. The investment will build on a variety of regional efforts by NOAA Fisheries and our partners across the nation to implement and amplify climate-informed management decisions. Region-specific work allows the NOAA to take targeted actions in areas vulnerable to climate change and encourages partnering with knowledgeable local organizations and Indigenous communities.

Indigenous:

New MOU Between Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Trent University to Support Collaboration Among Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems  / GLFC
Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Indigenous Environmental Institute at Trent University aims to build research-related capacity and develop collaborative programs to support Indigenous Nations and Tribes across the Great Lakes in a way that is respectful of the Treaty and inherent Rights and Interests of participating Nations and Tribes. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) confirms each institution’s commitment to respectful, ethical collaboration of Indigenous and Western knowledge systems in a way that will be mutually beneficial for all involved.

WSÁNEĆ chiefs call for halt to commercial herring fisheries / The Discourse
Hereditary leaders have issued a joint declaration to preserve the key species they say is in danger of collapse.

Update on Continuing Process to Clarify Marine Mammal Harvest Eligibility NOAA
NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are reviewing requirements for marine mammal harvest eligibility for Alaska Natives. The issue involves whether eligibility is determined solely based on blood quantum and what factors are relevant for assessing eligibility in the absence of proof of a minimum blood quantum.

Boating:

Yamaha, Roush and Regulator Marine Make Waves During 2024 SEMA Show® with World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Outboard / Business Wire
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit joined forces with Roush® and Regulator Marine to reveal the world’s first hydrogen-powered outboard for recreational use. With a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 for operations and 2050 for products, Yamaha is championing a multi-technology approach aligned with SEMA initiatives to motivate others in the industry to pursue carbon neutrality within product lines.

Arts:

Bass Pro Shops Renews Title Sponsorship Of The Art Of Conservation Fish Art Contest / White Bear Lake
Wildlife Forever is thrilled to announce that Bass Pro Shops has renewed Title Sponsorship of the 2024-25 Fish Art Contest. The long-standing partnership is dedicated to building the next generation of anglers and conservationists through the arts. This collaboration has empowered youth in nearly every state to discover the joys of fishing.

Books:

Sea Change reports on the work of the OceanCanada Partnership, a multidisciplinary, multiyear research project to take stock of what we know about Canada’s three oceans, construct scenarios of the future facing coastal regions, and create a national dialogue and vision. Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and practitioners in a wide array of fields investigate well-being, health, and livelihoods in coastal communities as they respond to rapid environmental and social transformation. With a focus on finding solutions, they outline the implications and obstacles for legislation, make suggestions for further research, and offer policy recommendations.

Podcasts:

An “All Too Clear”  look into the Great Lakes / The Blue Fish Radio Show
The producers of the TV Ontario “All Too Clear” 3-part series  discuss with The Blue Fish Radio Show host Lawrence Gunther how they used ROVs to explore the hidden depths of the Great Lakes . The three discuss how the RVO footage reveals the true extent of the quadrillions of tiny invasive mussels that are re-engineering the ecosystem of North America’s Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers.

How Underwater Drones Are Transforming Fisheries Data Collection in Remote Areas / NOAA
Remote underwater gliders—or underwater drones—present opportunities for all kinds of data collection and oceanographic research. They’re incredibly cost effective, requiring less staff and equipment than traditional methods. Hear how gliders are being used to survey Antarctic krill, the foundation of the region’s food web.

Videos:

All Too Clear 3-Part Videoe Series / TVO
The “All Too Clear” 3-part video series Directed by the husband-and-wife filmmaking team, Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert, aired on TV Ontario and quickly became one of their top performing series in 2024. The series can be streamed on YouTube at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgBne2KTlDUz94DllR8z9a10-7IXEwoFs&si=TDLQqXbAlUQFeFbO
The series can also be streamed with descriptive video online at: https://www.tvo.org/programs/all-too-clear

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What’s New at Blue Fish Canada

Even though the focus of Blue Fish Canada right now is on preparing the launch of the new Blue Fish Exploration centre, we still seem to be getting it right! For example, last September The Blue Fish Radio Show was declared the #2 top fishing podcast in the world by Feedspot. Now, the podcast ranking service “Goodpods” just ranked our podcast #15 on their Top 100 Natural Sciences Monthly chart, #89 on their Top 100 Science Monthly chart, and #92 on their Top 100 Natural Sciences All time chart. These reports show that our audience are mainly people with a passion for fishing, with a strong interest in the health and welfare of fish. Exactly the people the Blue Fish Canada charity was created to support, inform and inspire. People who are or will become the next generation of conservation-minded fishing enthusiasts, and quite likely, people who seek a career in conservation, biology or environmental sciences. And let’s not forget those who come next. More than ever, nature needs strong stewards, and that’s exactly who make up our podcast listening audience, the readers of this newsletter, and those youth who are choosing to take part in our experiential programs!

This Week’s Feature – Are Fish Sentient Beings?

By L. Gunther

For many involved with the commercial harvesting of fish, the question of fish being sentient seems to seldom come up. It has however, inspired aspects of the recently formed Code of Practice adopted by the Canadian Aquiculture Industry Alliance. Similar codes have been created and adopted by Canadian farmers with respect to their farmed animals. Without doubt, the topic of animal sentience is gaining ground, so, how does all this change how we handle fish?

Animal care pertains to the physical health of animals; interpreted by many involved with farming as best practices that ensure as many animals as possible complete their intended life journey. Animal welfare is understood as the quality-of-life animals experience from the time they are born up until the moment their life draws to a close. Farmers understand that production processes need to ensure both a farmed animals health and welfare out of respect for the “one-health” relationship that exists between farmers and the animals they produce. It’s also crucial for maintaining the public’s trust that their farmed animals are being raised ethically.

Documented consideration of the welfare of commercially harvested wild fishes is difficult to find.There are however, numerous examples of ethical fish handling practices now promoted throughout the recreational fishing community by most all stakeholders. And yet, recognition that farmed animals or fishes are sentient beings remains a concept few are willing to publicly embrace. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recently attempted to address this intransigence by publishing their official position on animal sentience.

Sentience is now being defined by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association as, “having the capacity to experience positive and negative feelings such as pleasure, excitement, fear, hunger, pain, and distress.” On May 16 2024 the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association released the below statement on the sentience of animals:

“Many species of animals are sentient. All vertebrates, and likely many invertebrate animals, are sentient in that they can experience feelings in response to positive or negative stimuli. Consequently, the welfare of sentient animals must be considered as part of ethical decision-making; effort must be made to maximize positive experiences and minimize negative experiences. The needs of the species and the individual must be considered as part of animal care and use practices. Where there may be scientific uncertainty, an assumption of sentience should prevail because it is a key principle in formulating policy on animal welfare.”

People who fish recreationally spend much of their time on the water observing fish behavior and how fishes respond to various stimuli and changes to their environment. We’ve all experienced a “wolf pack” of smallmouth bass initially competing to take our bait, only to suddenly ignore every bait we throw once we have been spotted, and then casually swim away as if we were of little consequence. We also know how to convince a fish that’s showing mild curiosity about our bait to strike by awakening their feeling of either anger, hunger or simply because they just can’t tolerate the idea of food getting away. We have all experienced the frustration of seeing countless fish on our sonar below our boats and being unable to get even one to bite because they just aren’t feeling hungry. Anyone who owns an aquarium knows that their pet fishes demonstrate a sense of anticipation when we open the lid each day to feed our fishes. I’m sure all of us can come up with many more examples of fish behavior that demonstrates their ability to experience a range of emotions.

Sentience is about feeling emotions and how these emotions may differ based on time and place. The same space may elicit different emotions based on the time of day or year, just like how changes to the environment a fish commonly inhabits can alter how that fish might behave. Like a dog, a fishes response has little to do with their planning ahead, and everything to do with what’s happening in their environment right now. Feeding, exercise, play, sleep, are all feelings that make up different parts of a dogs life, and quite possibly even that of fishes, although I’m not sure fishes feel the joy brought on by time spent playing.

Some fear that any talk of fishes as sentient beings re-opens the debate over whether fish feel pain or not. I’m sure they do, but not in the way we feel pain. We will touch just about anything and put our hands at risk of being injured pretty much every day. It’s how we explore the world around us and get things done. We even put things in our mouths that we probably shouldn’t such as the smoke of a fine cigar, the intensity of a good scotch, powerful hot sauces, blue cheese, hot coffee and tea, and much more.

Fishes use their mouth for everything we use ours for, plus as hands to grip, crush, kill, move things about, fight, and explore new things in their environment that move such as a fishing lure. Fish also swallow all manner of other things like shellfish, crawfish, and smaller fish that possess all manner of intended deterrence to ward off attack such as spines and rays. They use their mouths to sort through mud, gravel, sticks and more as they search along the bottom of lakes and rivers for food. In fact, their mouths serve more as hands as made evident by the fact that most of their nerve receptacles used for taste are located outside their mouths along their cheeks and gills.

For more on how fish feel pain, listen to my conversation with Dr. Steven Cooke on the topic. This Blue Fish Radio episode was recorded in 2019: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/fish-pain-explained-by-dr-steven-cooke–16228977

I recently attended the annual meeting of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission made up of U.S. and Canadian Commissioners, scientists, support personnel, and advisors. There was talk about the fisheries in the Great Lakes being certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, and now quite possibly through the Seafood Watch program operated out of the Monterey Aquarium in California. Both these programs focus on the sustainability of the commercial fishing of different fishes found in specific water bodies, but offer little in terms of fish handling best practices.

I took the opportunity as an observer at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to raise the idea of the Commission pursuing the development and implementation of an Animal Care Code similar to what Canada’s aquiculture sector recently adopted. Guidelines on how best to ethically treat and handle fishes. I suggested that given that since the freshwater fisheries in the Great Lakes are the most valuable freshwater fishery in the world, might it not be advantageous that it also be conducted in a way that respects the sentience of the fishes being harvested, similar in how we safeguard their existence by administering Sea Lamprey reduction programs, work to prevent invasive species, and ensure fisheries are sustainable?

We are fortunate that fishing is still perceived as a largely innocuous activity in that it’s not regarded as harmful or offensive. Fishing is still portrayed in mainstream media as an acceptable method of harvesting quality protein that over 2-billion people around the world depend on for their survival.

Farmed animal based agriculture was also once accepted by the public as an honourable way of producing food to feed our communities. Throughout Canada and around the world, agriculture sectors and the governments that monitor their activities are working hard to respond to growing public concern over the industrialisation of farm animal production, to ensure farmed animals are not only healthy, but treated in ways that respect the fact that they are sentient beings. Canada’s own organic certification includes provisions that address the welfare of farmed animals, and the Animal Care Codes developed and adopted by stakeholders involved with farming are all evidence that animal health and welfare are important aspects of farming. The federally funded National Farm Animal Care Council has been working closely with Canada’s farmed animal producers and other stakeholders to develop Animal Care Codes that have raised the bar on how animals are to be treated across Canada.

Fish sentience also applies to the tools we use and the way we catch, harvest or release fish. Certain provinces in Canada are now looking at how commercial fishers euthanize their catches, and plan to put an end to putting fish on ice and letting them slowly asphyxiate. More humane ways of euthanizing fishes will soon be mandated, requiring that fish be stunned and then killed in a timely manner.

When I fished Cod in the 1980s along Canada’s east coast aboard small commercial fishing boats, the fish weren’t put on ice as we had none. They were simply placed alive in large empty containers on the deck, and when the containers were filled, laid on the deck itself. At the end of each day the cod – living and dead — were cleaned on route back to the harbour where they were sold to buyers and only then packed in ice.

For hundreds of years none of these in-shore cod fishers used ice to chill their catches as their wooden home made dories had no space or the capacity to carry ice in addition to the weight of a good day’s catch without putting their vessels at risk of sinking, leaving the fishers to die of hypothermia in the 10 degree Celsius water. I don’t ever remember seeing a life jacket aboard the boat, never mind a flotation suit. Most fishers at that time never even learned to swim as they felt it would only prolong their death, and that not knowing how to swim made them more careful. The fact that Cod were stacked aboard their boats without thought of first euthanizing these fish was never discussed.

Interestingly, what isn’t shown on the popular TV program Wicked Tuna, is what happens to the Bluefin Tuna after being successfully hooked, reeled in, harpooned, and their tails rapped. To cool off the still-living flesh of the tuna and prevent its valuable meat being cooked due to the excessive energy and heat the fish just generated trying to break free, a special hook is inserted into the tuna’s mouth and then this warm-blooded fish is swum slowly behind the moving boat so it’s still beating heart can circulate blood throughout its body and cool down. Viewers are given the impression that the tuna itself dies very shortly after being successfully harpooned, tail-wrapped and then quickly brought aboard the boat.

One can debate over whether or not the tuna being kept alive and swum behind the boat is ethical or not, but it’s clearly something producers of the show decided not to show viewers over concern over their possibly responding negatively to this prolonging of the tuna’s eventual demise. And yet, without allowing the Tuna to cool down, the value of the flesh is significantly reduced, a reality that is given serious consideration during the evaluation of the quality of the Tuna’s flesh by the buyer.

Public perceptions of farming are changing, and the welfare of farmed animals must now be reflected in how such animals are treated throughout their life. Canada’s fin-fish aquiculture sector has also now adopted guidelines to ensure farmed fish are respected as well. Commercial fishing has already begun to respond to growing pressure to fish sustainably, it’s now just a matter of time until they too adopt practices that reflect the fact that fishes are sentient beings.

Whether harvested or released, fish deserve to be treated humanely. Most recreational fishers understand this, which is why most all fishing boats now come equipped with expensive livewells that circulate and oxygenate water so that fish might be kept calm and alive as anglers assemble the best possible day’s catch according to limits based on fish size and total allowable catch, whether it be for competition or harvest.

It’s now up to commercial fishers to make the investment to develop and implement fish handling best practices that reflect what scientists now know about fishes and their sentience. Should the public determine that commercial fishing operations disrespect fish, public sentiment about commercial fishing in general may continue to diminish, resulting in fewer people choosing to eat fish or take up fishing as a profession or pastime.

Fishing is one of the last activities people pursue that involves harvesting food from the wild. Should this final thread be broken between people and nature, our level of interest in making sure nature is respected as a whole may also weaken, leaving it open to greater levels of unsustainable economic activity in the interest of short-term wealth creation by corporations and communities alike.

It’s largely because of the 6-milion Canadians who fish recreationally each year that we have the conservation measures that ensure nature is respected. Not only are anglers conservationists at heart, it’s because of the economic value generated through recreational fishing that incentivise both communities and governments to respond to the importance we place on the protection of wild fishes and the conservation of fish habitat.

For much of northern and rural Canada, fishing-based tourism represents their strongest sustainable source of economic prosperity. In the Great Lakes, recreational fishing and fishing by indigenous communities accounts for about 95% of the over $9.5-bilion economic value generated each year – the remaining 5% is generated by commercial fishing.

Despite the 21% bump in participation in recreational fishing brought about by COVID-19, numbers of recreational fishers across Canada are steadily declining, as are people who fish commercially. The Great Lakes commercial fisheries are also in decline, as is fishing among indigenous communities. Should fishers suddenly be viewed publicly as engaging in an unethical activity, these participation levels will drop even faster, leaving behind our last significant connection with nature and the motivation to safeguard wild fishes.

Recreational angling stakeholders from tackle and boat manufacturers to the people responsible for organizing fishing tournaments expend considerable effort and cost to ensure fishing is conducted ethically. Let’s also make sure our respect for fishes is also reflected when we make our fish purchase choices at grocery stores and restaurants. We understand that the sustainability of fish stocks is fundamental, but we need to make sure that people involved with catching, processing and selling commercially caught fishes understand that fish also need to be treated humanely.

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

Canadian Fishing Network’s Nationwide Tournament kicks off June 29th / Angler’s Atlas
The CFN Fish Off starts Saturday, June 29 until Monday, August 5, 2024. It’s FREE for ALL ages sponsored by Shimano. Anyone fishing in Canadian waters can participate in the CFN Fish Off. All entries must be submitted using the MyCatch mobile app (available to download for any Apple and Android mobile device).

How the Critical Catch program is safeguarding Georgian Bay, one tangled mess of mono at a time / Outdoor Canada
Fishing is a cherished pastime, offering outdoor enthusiasts the chance to connect with nature and reel in unforgettable memories. There are, however, environmental challenges associated with our beloved sport, most notably the negative impact of abandoned fishing gear such as monofilament line.

Salmon fishery opened on the Northwest River / NTV
On June 22, Parks Canada opened the Northwest River in Terra Nova National Park to anglers for a salmon quota of 100 fish.

For one B.C. angler, the live release of a likely record-book fish is the true trophy / Outdoor Canada
After John netted the chinook and we quickly measured it three times, we carefully put it back in the water and watched as it swam away, continuing its journey. Anglers in another boat close to us asked for the measurements: 55 inches long, with a girth of 38 inches. They checked their chart to calculate the weight (length times girth times girth divided by 750) and announced the result: 105.9 pounds! It was the biggest chinook ever on record to be caught and released by a recreational angler.

PETA calls out Stoney Creek Dads Thinking about going fishing / Toronto Sun
PETA is sending out a message that is graphic novel-inspired, urging dads – specifically in and who drive around Stoney Creek – to not spend their special day “dragging sentient fish from their underwater homes and suffocating or gutting them while they’re still conscious.”

The Ultimate Angler World Championship / Best on Tour
New big money non forward facing sonar event will take place on Lake Guntersville in 2025. While there is very little information available at this time, the organization’s website lists the state of Alabama, Alabama Department Of Conservation & Natural Resources, and the city of Scottsboro, AL as partners.

Heat wave closes salmon fishing on N.B. rivers / CBC
Fisheries and Oceans Canada said on its website that salmon pools are closed to angling on the Miramichi River system.

Shark Depredation: A Frustrating Experience for Fishermen in the Atlantic / NOAA
Shark depredation is a growing concern for recreational anglers. NOAA Fisheries is taking steps to better understand the frequency of depredation events and the circumstances around these interactions.

EU Fisheries Control Regulation: status & app development / EFTTA
EU institutions have agreed that recreational sea fishers shall be licensed or registered. The regulations stipulates that marine recreational fishers operating in EU territorial waters must register and declare their catch through a certified app starting in 2026. Until then, the EU Fishing App must be developed, tested, and ready for use.

How Viking-Age Hunters Took Down the Biggest Animal on Earth / Hakai
New research suggests that medieval Icelanders were scavenging and likely even hunting blue whales long before industrial whaling technology.

Seeking summer splake / Keep Canada Fishing
Even experienced anglers often need to take a second look to accurately identify splake, being that they’re a hybrid.

Pending lead ban: EFTTA position 2024 / EFTTA
Compared to the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association’s lead position from 2022 a couple of things have changed since then. In particular: 1/ EFTTA agreed to support not only a sales ban but also a use ban; 2/ EFTTA suggests 3% as the max. acceptable lead percentage in brass (previously 4%).

NOAA SHARES PLANS TO RE-ENVISION RECREATIONAL FISHING DATA COLLECTION / NOAA Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology reflects on the importance of collaborating on a fresh approach to the recreational fisheries data collection partnership in the United States. The NOAA collects recreational fishing data from anglers through a network of surveys. These data result in estimates of recreational catch and effort. Alongside commercial, observer, and biological data, they help inform stock assessments and resulting fisheries management advice. The aim is to provide optimal fishing opportunities while balancing the need to protect marine fisheries resources. the involvement of The recreational fishing community is crucial to the success of this process.

Fish:

About 150 dead trout and juvenile salmon found in eastern P.E.I. river / CBC
Staff from two P.E.I. government departments were gathering information from the Cardigan River after finding about 150 dead fish in the area.

Officials seize around $500K worth of baby eels from Toronto Pearson Airport / CBC
The seizure of 109 kilograms of elvers was carried out on Wednesday by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The federal government closed the lucrative elver fishery on March 11 after violence and intimidation plagued last year’s fishing season in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Unconventional Sex Let Anglerfish Conquer the Deep Ocean / New York Times
Ever wonder how marine creatures mate in the deep sea? It turns out that tiny male anglerfish clamp onto the big bellies of females with their teeth, probably tracking them by scent in the vast darkness. And some males never let go; they fuse with their female hosts for life, losing their eyes and most of their organs, but providing a perpetual source of sperm.

New Recommendations from Ocean Wise Recognize Sustainable B.C. Salmon Fisheries / SkeenaWild
Consumers want to buy sustainably caught seafood but have been hampered by eco-labels that greenwash harmful industrial fisheries and exclude smaller-scale sustainable fisheries for too long. This has especially been the case for Pacific salmon, where community-led Indigenous fisheries in British Columbia have been passed over by major eco-labels, while unsustainable interception fisheries in Alaska have enjoyed long-standing approval. The new rapid assessment standard announced by Ocean Wise is a major step forward in allowing people to make responsible choices at their local grocery stores and restaurants. Chefs and shop owners in B.C. will now be able to offer their customers locally caught, Ocean Wise-certified salmon from our province’s most sustainable fisheries.

Belugas may communicate by warping a blob of forehead fat / Smithsonian, Science News
Those of us with pets swear we can intuit their moods through their diverse body language; cats, for instance, make up to 300 different recognizable facial expressions. According to new research, beluga whales may communicate similarly. Belugas can modulate a big blob of fat on their foreheads into at least five distinct, eye-catching shapes, which scientists suspect make up part of the species’ body language repertoire.

Sound of Whale Song Signals Antarctic Blue Whales May Be Making a Comeback / Yale E360
There’s more good news that whales seem to be slowly recovering from the devastation of industrial whaling. In the Antarctic Ocean, scientists have spent the past 20 years listening for whale calls. Blue whales, the scientists say, have been turning up in their recordings more and more, suggesting the species’ population is growing.

Great Lakes Community Meets The Moment To Advance Coaster Restoration / FishingWire
On the Lake Superior coast, a coalition of partners facilitated by Trout Unlimited are coming together to breathe new life into the study and recovery of native coaster brook trout – a life history variation of brook trout that spend part of their lives in Lake Superior. Scientists do not consider them to be genetically distinct from inland brook trout—these are still scientifically known as Salvelinus fontinalis—but they can grow much larger by foraging in the big lake, reaching up to 25 inches.

Kayaking scientist raises alarm over mass die-off of farmed salmon / Coast Reporter
Mass mortality event kills hundreds of tonnes of B.C. farmed salmon. DFO and operator attribute mass die-off to low oxygen, but one scientist who visited one far-flung site in a kayak worries the real cause could be more complicated.

Sperm whales drop ‘bubble of poo’ off WA to prevent orca attack in rarely recorded encounter / ABC
Animals have all sorts of weird and wonderful ways to distract and evade predators, from bioluminescent flashes to squirts of ink. Off Western Australia, some sperm whales demonstrated the effectiveness of their own particularly potent evasion tactic: a cloud of diarrhea.

Meth-addict fish, aggro starlings, caffeinated minnows: animals radically changed by human drugs / The Guardian
Lots of the drugs we humans use (illicit and otherwise) are water-soluble. That’s bad news for marine animals. When exposed to compounds such as methamphetamine, animals can develop a variety of unfortunate side effects. That realization has scientists calling for the pharmaceutical industry to create drugs less that are likely to cause contamination.

One of Earth’s Biggest Freshwater Fishes is Bouncing Back / National Geographic
Giant freshwater fish are among the most endangered animals on Earth. But in the lush waterways of the Amazon, one leviathan is swimming against the current.

Asian carp measures remain delayed / Ontario OUT of DOORS
Squabbling between the state of Illinois and the US federal government is delaying measures planned to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. example, electrical and acoustic barriers, an air bubble curtain, a flushing lock, and an engineered channel are at issue.

In the Caribbean, Hammerhead Sharks Return to School / Hakai
The detection of schooling behavior is a promising sign of recovery for this iconic and endangered animal.

Why are there suddenly salmon in Canada’s far northwest? / Polarjournal
More and more pacific salmon are ending up far in the Northwest Territories.

Habitat:

So Long to Open-Net-Pen Salmon Farms? / Hakai
The Canadian federal government has been under orders from the British Columbia Supreme Court since 2012 to deal with the problems posed by open-net-pen salmon farms in British Columbia waters. The government shut down several farms in the Discovery Islands region in 2020, and the government had committed to transitioning away from open-net-pen farming by 2025. Well, it’s 2024, and the feds just announced they’re now looking to ban open-net-pen farms “in five years.” (Hakai Magazine, The Guardian)

Alberta’s increased aquatic invasive species fines will be the highest in North America / ISC
Fines associated with avoiding boat inspections in Alberta will increase by thousands starting June 20. The fines for failing to stop with a trailered boat at an open inspection station will jump from $324 to $4,200. For those that fail to remove a bilge plug when transporting a watercraft on a roadway, the fines will rise from $180 to $600.

William Shatner dives into salmon farm debate in profanity-laden campaign / City News
Canadian actor William Shatner has put together a public service announcement on open net pen salmon farms – and he isn’t holding back.

Whirling disease next front in war on invasive species – TimesChronicle.ca
The war on aquatic invasive species was given a boost recently with British Columbia’s chief veterinarian issuing an order making it illegal to transport watercraft in the province with the drain plug still in place. The order is part of an ongoing actions to contain and prevent further spread of whirling disease and keep invasive mussels out of BC waterways.

Federal government BANS open net pen fish farms / Watershed Watch
The federal government announced that all open net-pen salmon farms will be out of B.C. coastal waters over the next five years. After relentless lobbying by the multibillion-dollar Norwegian farming companies, and some troubling signals from our Quebec-based fisheries minister, the folks at Watershed Watch were worried the feds were going to completely abandon their promise to get the farms out. Yesterday’s announcement specified that closed-containment systems will be allowed to operate “in marine waters and on land” past 2029, but this will not include “semi-closed” systems that would discharge virus and parasite-infected waste from the farms into the surrounding waters.

Anglers Against Litter campaign wins ‘Keep Britain Tidy Award’ / EFTTA
The Anglers Against Litter campaign, a joint initiative run by the U.K.’s Angling Trust and Shimano and supported by the U.K.’s Environment Agency, has been honoured with a Keep Britain Tidy, Great British Spring Clean ‘Best in Business Award’.

Drug residue accumulation in fish can be predicted with increasing accuracy / University of Helsinki
A study conducted at the University of Helsinki proposes new initiatives for predicting the environmental effects of pharmaceuticals with the help of molecular interactions in fish.

Environment minister responds to chief’s concerns about toxic sewage spill at Chalk River / CBC
The federal environment minister is open to improvements after an Algonquin leader raised concerns about a toxic sewage spill at the Chalk River nuclear research laboratory about 175 kilometres west of Ottawa.

Bureaucrats under investigation for silencing scientists over fish farm findings / The Skeena
Canada’s Integrity Commissioner will look into whether scientists have been prevented by the DFO from communicating salmon farming research.

Expiring salmon farms near Quadra Island eyed for kelp farming / My Campbell River Now
With Discovery Islands salmon farming licences set to expire at the end of this month, two sites near Quadra Island may soon change into seaweed farms.

Experts raise concerns over potential cyanide spread after Yukon mine failure / CBC
Following reports of a major slide, Victoria Gold’s stock price plummeted overnight. Now, experts are warning about the potential impacts of cyanide in the territory’s waterways.

PSF Statement on Open-Net Pen Aquaculture Transition / Pacific Salmon Foundation
The Pacific Salmon Foundation began researching whether or not open-net pen salmon farms posed a risk to wild Pacific salmon in 2013. Over the course of more than a decade and 60-plus publications, our current evidence-based position became obvious. We believe that ending open-net pen salmon farming in B.C. is a critical decision to support the conservation of wild Pacific salmon. Given the challenged state of many Pacific salmon species, we would have preferred a shorter timeline than the five-year license renewals announced today. Yet, we must acknowledge the need for a thoughtful and well-supported transition for First Nations and coastal communities impacted by this decision.

Feds unveil strategy for stopping biodiversity loss by 2030 / iPolitics
The strategy reaffirms Canada’s commitment to protecting 30 per cent of its land and water by the end of the decade.

Concerns as farmed fish production exceeds wild catch for first time / Foodservice Footprint
World fisheries and aquaculture production has hit a new high, with aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassing wild fisheries for the first time, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

How 3M Execs Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe / ProPublica
Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people’s bodies. Her bosses halted her work. As the EPA now forces the removal of the chemicals from drinking water, she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world.

‘A hard conversation’ about Atlantic salmon farms / Narwhal
Months before releasing a stark scientific assessment of the impact of fish farms on Atlantic salmon, federal officials grappled with how they would share the conclusions with industry and provincial regulators, according to internal correspondence obtained by The Narwhal. The March 2024 report was the first to formally assess the threat of interactions between wild salmon and escapees from the fish farms that dot the coastline in Atlantic Canada.

Indigenous:

Inuvialuit-led conservation area protects the Yukon’s northern stretch / Narwhal
The Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Traditional Conservation Area is the final piece of a vast network protecting the northern stretch of the Yukon.

Native American tribe wins right to hunt gray whales off Washington coast / The Guardian
The Makah Tribe, hailing from what is now Washington State, just got legal approval to resume a limited subsistence and ceremonial whale hunt. The Indigenous community will be allowed to catch 25 eastern North Pacific gray whales over 10 years.

Gitxsan Nation issues fishing ban notice, waters ministry refutes it / The Smithers Interior News
The Gitxsan Nation has issued a fishing ban notice for the 2024 season, but the provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resource Stewardship rejected the notice.

Hook, Line and Cannery: Decolonizing Seafood
How five First Nations on Vancouver Island are joining to redefine fishing industry success. A Tyee Q&A.

Industry:

Environmentally Friendly Tackle / Clam Outdoors
With high-grade materials like tungsten in our jigs and zinc alloy in our spoons, we are reducing the amount of lead used in our tackle lineup. Tungsten and zinc alloy baits are generally more durable than lead baits. Tungsten is known for its high sensitivity, which allows anglers to feel even subtle bites more easily compared to lead. This sensitivity can be an advantage when fishing. Lead has long been a concern due to its toxicity to wildlife and the environment. Tungsten and zinc alloy are considered safer alternatives as they are non-toxic. We are proud to stand apart as an eco-friendly tackle brand.

Boating:

Are electric boats the future of Fishing / Global News
Heidi Petracek explains how electric fishing vessels are getting closer to becoming mainstream and how governments are floating millions in funding.

Books:

Why Chris Harvey-Clark made it his mission to find the ‘Great Canadian Shark’ / CBC Listen
In Search of the Great Canadian Shark is a new book by Chris Harvey-Clark, which looks back at over a half century of diving. He spoke with Mainstreet’s Alex Mason to describe some of his experiences — and why swimming with sharks is a family tradition.

Videos:

Annual Great Lakes Day Conference Videos Share Info on PFAS, Marine Debris / Michigan Sea Grant
The 34th annual Great Lakes Day virtual conference brought together Great Lakes professionals to describe their work and many issues being faced in the region.

Call to Action:

Sign the Save Blind Bay Petition Today! / STR
Join the Save The River, Thousand Islands Land Trust and the Blind Bay Coalition in taking action to make our voices heard! Save The River Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper, along with the Blind Bay Coalition, has emphasized the importance of the community’s involvement in protecting Blind Bay’s environment and the River culture we all enjoy. Sign the Save Blind Bay Petition Today!

Coming Up:

Registration for the 2024 OTN Symposium closes on June 30!; / Ocean Tracking Network
This year’s symposium is taking place on Sept 23-26 at the Halifax Convention Centre in Halifax, N.S. and will be co-located with the OCEANS 2024 conference. Oral presentations, speed talks, workshops and posters will be organized under the themes of conservation and management; movement ecology; freshwater and rivers; collaboration, outreach, and engagement; and more.

Podcast:

BLUE FISH RADIO: DO FISH FEEL PAIN? OUTDOOR CANADA MAGAZINE
Do fish feel pain? Surprisingly, there isn’t a lot of credible research on the topic, but that doesn’t stop people from speculating. In this episode of Blue Fish Radio, host Lawrence Gunther tries to separate fact from fiction by talking to leading fisheries expert Steven Cooke (above). He’s the Canada Research Chair of Environmental Science and Biology at Carleton University, working in the field of fish ecology and conservation physiology. It’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about fish. Listen in to hear his pointed comments on the topic of fish pain.

Special Guest Feature – Jaws of the North

Tell Tale Productions

Canada’s Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark has been working on a documentary about efforts to photo identify great white sharks in Nova Scotia waters since 2020. Over the last 4 years about 35 sharks have been identified using underwater camera images, shark cage diving, drones and ROVs. A white shark id database has also been initiated at the Ocean Tracking Network thanks to help from Executive Director Dr Fred Whoriskey.

This massive team effort has culminated in the first ever successful Discovery USA Shark Week Documentary shot in Canada by a Canadian crew and featuring sharks in Canadian waters. Tune in July 10 2024 for “Jaws of the North”.

Proudly Canadian and featuring Andy Casagrande as host, the foremost shark videographer on the planet. His productions are frequent fliers on Shark Week for the past 20 years.

And be sure to get Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark’s new book, In Search of the Great Canadian Shark’ also available as an e book.

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What’s New at Blue Fish Canada

Work is advancing on the new Blue Fish Exploration Centre. Accessible paths are being installed, new bunkies built, solar generation and storage solutions implemented, a new dock system procured, and so much more. Moving forward is like juggling countless balls – they all need to be kept moving or the entire project will come to a stop. Can’t wait for the doors to open and programming to start. In the meantime, boats are being launched and fishing is well underway, thank goodness.

This Week’s Feature –  Commonalities of Recreational, Small and Large-Scale Fisheries

By L. Gunther

In the past few editions of the Blue Fish News we have explored the influence of technological advancements on recreational and small-scale commercial fisheries. There’s one more element to this discussion that we need to cover, and that’s large-scale commercial fishing. While the three forms of fishing may use different systems for catching fishes, they also share similar technologies meant to increase the efficiency in which fishing is conducted. Unfortunately, in many instances technology is increasingly impacting fish stocks negatively due to fishery science and regulations governing fishing failing to keep pace.

The editorial on small scale fisheries concluded that such fishers are eager to adopt the latest technologies meant to reduce time spent on the water by increasing their ability to catch fish. While many local fishers are recognized as stewards of the resource, it doesn’t stop them from seeking tools that maximize their efficiency on the water. It’s a desire that can be traced back thousands of years and covers everything from nets to hooks to navigational aids, and now electronics.

Recreational anglers share with small scale commercial fishers a common desire to catch more and bigger fish more frequently. Whether to win competitions, to feed their families and communities, or to simply maximize their enjoyment on the water, every angler wants their time spent fishing to be memorable. The goal of any angler is to become more effective at catching fishes, and may include gaining wider public recognition of their fishing prowess.

I recently watched not for the first time the movie The Perfect Storm, and have read the book. What comes through is the desire among captain and crew alike to balance risk of loss of boat and life with a strong desire to catch fish. Yes, catching fishes means getting paid, but they also seek to be recognized as more than lucky. They want to prove to their families and peers that they are highly competent fishers. In the end, it was the pursuit of this recognition and money that overrode their concern of approaching storms that led to the loss of the Andria Gail and all aboard.

I think all of us would like to think that modern offshore commercial fishing vessels and their captains represent the latest in innovations and safety on the water. We are presented with exactly this ideal when we watch Deadliest Catch, a reality show that follows the captains and crew of crab boats that fish in some of the harshest conditions on the planet between Siberia and Alaska on the Bering Sea. We root for these captains and their crews who risk everything to catch their limits of crab against all odds, and even though they represent the best the free-market economy has to offer, loss of both vessels and crew at sea still occur.

Turns out what we watch on TV has little to do with the reality facing most high seas fishing vessels and their crews. Instead, the ships and captains that make up the largest-ever fishing machinery put to sea on the most spartan ships are crewed by people who are often little more than indentured slaves. These ships and crew spend upwards of two years at sea, receiving regular visits from supply vessels to offload processed fish, and re-supply the ships with fuel and food. It’s a form of fishing taken to the extreme, and resembles the voyages of whaling ships that once sailed half-way around the world and back in pursuit of their prey. It’s no wonder then that commercial fishers experience the highest incidence of mortality compared to other professions, and it isn’t always the fault of the weather.

Every year we hear of recreational fishers who have lost their lives pursuing fish aboard all manner of watercraft, breaking through ice, or while wading rivers. While we all share a common desire to catch fish, we know that it’s essential to exercise caution. Unfortunately, many of us accept higher than what many would consider acceptable levels of risk in our pursuit of quality fishing experiences or the recognition from others that we are more than simply good at fishing. Add in the temptation to earn cash or prizes, our effort to mitigate risk can be shrunk even further. Unfortunately, this acceptance of increased risk can also apply to the resource itself. It’s why we anglers and fishers alike believe in the need to set in place and enforce rules and restrictions that govern how we go about catching fishes and the number of fish we catch.

Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila from the University of British Columbia is one of the world’s leading thinkers on the topics of commercial fishing. His credentials include appointment as Canada’s Research Chair, Director of the UBC Fisheries Economics Research Unit, Co-Director of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and so much more. His exploration of interdisciplinary ocean and fisheries economics has earned him recognition as a world-leading thinker on the topic of sustainable large-scale fishing. Link below to listen to my conversation with Dr. Sumaila on The Blue Fish Radio Show, where we talked about the future capacity of the world’s ocean to feed the planet.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/e443-technology-and-commercial-fishing-with-dr-ussif-sumaila–59929658

I’ve received a lot of feedback from previous editorials on the topic of anglers and fishers gaining unfair advantage by adopting the latest innovations. There are many who believe that we need to reel in access to such technologies by all people who fish for fun, prizes and financial rewards, as well as food.

The need to better manage the application of fishing technology was made apparent when my grandmother relented to my persistent requests to organize a day on a North Sea commercial shrimping boat for my brother and myself, ages 14 and 12 at the time. Turns out way more than 95% of what the drag nets brought up and dumped on to the ship’s deck had to be shoveled by the two of us back over the side of the boat, much of which was injured or dead. It was obvious to us both that the cost to marine life in pursuit of North Sea shrimp seemed unjustifiable.

If it weren’t for government regulations, cars and trucks would be built and sold with next-to-no personal safety equipment such as airbags, tempered glass, crumple zones, seat belts or anti-lock braking systems. Regulations also exist that govern fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions. But we don’t put limits on the amount of power car and truck engines generate or their maximum payloads or speed, as this might strike many as curtailing the rights of motor vehicle operators.

Recreational fishing boats also have regulated safety features such as built-in floatation, limits on the number of passengers, mandatory anchors and life saving equipment, and power ratings governing the size of outboards. Commercial fishing boats also now must pass safety standards and carry aboard required safety equipment. But none of these vessels operate under regulations that focus the use of technology to catch only desired fishes, or that limits the harmful impacts of such technology on ecosystems.

Current fishing regulations focus on setting limits on the number and size of specific fishes that can be pursued or harvested. We are only beginning to regulate how technology can be applied to curtail the incidental capture of undesired species of aquatic or marine life, or to preserve the overall balance of such ecosystems.

No one who fishes wants to go back to using primitive technologies for harvesting fish when new more efficient and safer systems now exist. Even first nations fishers use modern fishing technologies and vessels. For all the reasons described above, people who fish want to be as successful as possible at fishing, while minimizing the chance of injury, death or property loss. At the same time, there is growing recognition among both anglers and fishers of the increasing power of many recent innovations, raising concerns over the long-term sustainability of our natural resources.

Technology itself isn’t necessarily the problem, it’s the failure to keep fishing regulations current with how people use technology to catch fish. If catching limits of fishes is growing increasingly likely, then maybe we need to take another look at how limits are set and how fishing is conducted.

Since the dawn of recreational fishing, harvest limits have been viewed as some sort of bar that only the best among us are capable of reaching. A sort of brass ring that demonstrates our having become highly competent at catching fishes.

It may be time to create limits that recognize most all anglers and fishers now possess the competency and technology to easily fulfil our daily catch and possession limits. Regulations that go beyond harvesting limits and include rules that more closely govern not only when we can pursue different fishes, but where and how.

For any new regulations to be credible, we need to invest more in the science needed to Taylor such limits to the reality of each specific water body. Not only the capacity to sustainably support such limits, but rules that ensure the welfare of fishes, protect fish habitat, and safeguard ecosystems in general.

Thankfully, Canada has already been shifting away from using the low-cost strategy of simply shutting down a fishery when fish stocks show signs of being over-harvested., We are moving towards adopting rules that seek to balance fishing pressure with the health of ecosystems and the welfare of fishes. These new more nuanced regulations are not only accepted and followed, but welcomed by most anglers and fishers.

Science-based regulations reduce the need to close fisheries, a drastic measure that can lead to the deterioration of the socio-economic stability of indigenous and coastal communities. Fishing closures also often mean key components of ecosystems needed to maintain nature’s balance have been dangerously reduced.

The science needed to maintain sustainable harvesting pressure and the balance within ecosystems being fished now exists. The challenge now is to ensure science is applied in ways that match changes in fishing pressure such as those brought about by technological innovations.

We regulate the safety of places of work, our homes, the tools we buy and use, and the vehicles we drive or that we share the roads with. Not only for our safety, but the good of the planet. But when it comes to overfishing, we need to stop making anglers and fishers the scapegoats when fishing stocks are depleted, or the welfare of fishes impacted. Catch and punish poachers for sure but making us all out to be unethical witless greedy people that can’t be trusted to do what’s right, when what’s needed are regulations that ensure Canada’s fishes are captured and harvested sustainably and ethically is the true crime.

In short, the failure of applying the science to ensure regulations stay abreast of advances in fishing innovations not only unfairly criminalizes anglers and fishers, but threatens ecosystems, puts at risk fish health, and undermines the welfare of fishes. The misalignment of regulations with the values held by anglers and fishers has proven especially destructive to indigenous and coastal communities. Personal and community values that also apply to the health and welfare of fishes. Setting aside the debate over whether fish feel pain, they are in fact sentient and deserving of humane treatment, but that’s a topic for a future editorial.

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

Anglers looking for salmon — and some optimism — as concerns grow about the Codroy River / CBC
Newfoundland salmon fishers fear that conditions in the Codroy River are getting worse every year, writes Gord Follett, but he’s holding out hope they’ll return and recover. “Salmon farms on the south coast, 50-100 seals in the barachois every day are huge factors that can be easily dealt with, but our Liberal governments don’t care,” he said. He’d rather see the farms moved on land to better protect wild salmon and more seal hunting licences issued.

Federal fisheries regulators still in early stages of wrestling with salmon bycatch /| The Cordova Times
Federal fisheries regulators tasked with mediating conflicts over salmon bycatch in the groundfish fisheries between trawlers and commercial and subsistence salmon harvesters have updated their list of alternatives to be analyzed, but are a long way from resolving the problem.

Dire Straits: Can a Fishing Ban Save the Elusive European Eel? / Yale Environment 360
There’s a new push to ban fishing for the European eel, a staple of continental cuisine. The iconic eel is facing a multitude of threats, from pollution to disease to overfishing, and efforts to halt the decline of the elusive fish have so far fallen short. No one has ever seen eels reproducing in the wild, much less figured out how to breed them on farms. Scientists are now calling for a total shutdown of the fishery, which many see as the last option after years of neglect.

5 people from Maine arrested during DFO elver fishery patrol in Nova Scotia / CBC
Canadian officers arrested five people from Maine who were illegally fishing in Nova Scotia rivers for elvers, or baby glass eels—the most valuable commercial fish in Canada by weight. Altogether, 95 people have been arrested since early March, when the minister closed the fishery for another year due to a slew of violent altercations over Indigenous rights and commercial fishing.

North Pacific Fisheries Commission Takes Steps to Improve Fisheries Management, Labor Standards, and Illegal Fishing Management / NOAA
The United States continued to advance its objectives to improve international fisheries management through a successful 8th meeting of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission. Members adopted a revised compliance monitoring scheme and a U.S. proposal to promote labor protections for fishing vessel crews. Other decisions strengthen monitoring of fishing vessels and make progress on protecting deep-sea ecosystems.

These anglers are helping sustain Thunder Bay, Ont.’s ‘world-class’ urban fishing spots / CBC
Urban anglers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are flocking to streams and rivers as rainbow trout have begun their spawning run. Longtime anglers say this urban fishing oasis is unique and needs to be protected.

Fish:

Drastic decline in wild Atlantic salmon in the Conne River, due mainly to aquaculture says new comprehensive DFO study / CBC Listen
Travis Van Leeuwen, one of the authors of a new study on Newfoundland’s Conne River salmon decrease, says the magnitude of the decline is extremely concerning.

How to Use an Anvil (If You’re a Wrasse) / Hakai
Fish aren’t fools—they use tools.

Predators take big bite out of declining Atlantic Mackerel population / DFO
Predators ate at least twice as many Atlantic mackerel as commercial fishery landings in the decade leading up to Canada’s region-wide moratorium, according to new research by Canadian and American scientists. The finding that natural mortality outweighs fishing underscores the challenge of rebuilding a declining stock through government management measures like reduced quotas.

If Animals Are Conscious, What about Us? / Tyee
Emerging scientific research shows they’re self-aware. This could disrupt the Great Chain of Being for the greater good.

This 8-foot-long ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought / National Geographic
For years, paleontologists thought this ancient salmon was like a saber-toothed cat, but now facial reconstruction offers a brand new look.

Effort underway to eradicate invasive smallmouth bass from Echo Lake / Campbell River Mirror
Invasive species introduced illegally into Echo Lake threaten native salmon and trout populations.

Canned tuna myths exposed by Fish Experts / Mashed
Concerns over the mercury content in fish have been swirling for a long time, with some types like swordfish being notoriously high in mercury. Exposure to mercury comes with serious consequences, and while there are rumors that canned tuna can be high in mercury, the experts we reached out to say that’s just not the case.

Reproductive success improves after a single generation in the wild for descendants of some hatchery chinook salmon / Phys.org
Researchers who created “family trees” for nearly 10,000 fish have found that first-generation, wild-born descendants of hatchery-origin chinook salmon in an Oregon river show improved fitness.

Habitat:

Peeking into the Ocean’s Microscopic Baby Boom / Hakai
Springtime delivers the world’s tiniest zoo babies.

Zebra mussels may prompt closure of national park lake, Manitoba government says / Manitoba News
The Manitoba government says Parks Canada is considering closing a popular lake to boating this year because of zebra mussels. Jamie Moses, the province’s natural resources minister, says the potential closure of Clear Lake, in Riding Mountain National Park, would harm tourism, the economy and area residents.

New ballast water findings lead to new questions on the Great Lakes / Great Lakes Commission
Scientists have been trying to figure out a good way to treat ballast water from lakers, which are ships that travel only within the Great Lakes. But new research shows things might be a little trickier than scientists thought. It’s estimated that nearly two-thirds of aquatic invasive species currently in the Great Lakes hitched a ride in the ballast water of cargo ships crossing the ocean. However, the same isn’t true of lakers, or ships that move exclusively within the Great Lakes. While the ballast water of these ships isn’t introducing new species, there’s a good chance it’s spreading invasive species throughout the lakes.

A Tale of Three Lakes / Research Project on harmful algal blooms / Ohio Sea Grant
In the first highly integrated experimental study of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms across diverse Great Lakes environments, researchers are examining three of the Great Lakes to determine how different nutrients and temperature influence bloom growth and resulting toxins. The results are illuminating the similarities and differences in how blooms start, persist, and produce toxins.

A habitat lifeline for juvenile salmon in the Fraser River / Pacific Salmon Foundation
Sturgeon Bank — a stretch of the Fraser River delta located off the west coast of Richmond, British Columbia — has lost at least 160 hectares of tidal marsh habitat over the last three decades due to dredging, dikes, and other human interventions.

Scientists Are Trying to Coax the Ocean to Absorb More CO2 / Yale Environment 360
Researchers and a handful of startups are trying to coax the ocean to soak up more of our carbon emissions. For billions of years, the seas have been absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. To boost that drawdown, companies are now altering the chemistry of the ocean or sinking biomass to the seafloor. Little is known about how effective their techniques will be — or about the possible unintended consequences.⁠

In Lake Erie, Climate Change Scrambles Zooplankton’s Seasonal Presence / Ohio State University
A new analysis of zooplankton shows that their biomass and seasonal behavioral patterns have been drastically altered by human-driven changes in water temperature and food webs.

Spring Into Action – Game Edition! / Invasive Species Centre
As we start to spend more time outdoors, learn what you can do to prevent invasive species. Follow the link to see a typical camping day on the lake. Hidden in plain sight are some typical Pathways of the Spread for invasive species – when you find one, click to learn more.

Indigenous:

The Indigenous-led plan to protect a vast swath of northern Ontario / Narwhal
Omushkego leaders in the James Bay region of eastern Canada are cautiously optimistic about working with the federal government to create an Indigenous-led conservation area five times the size of Nova Scotia. It encompasses a rare peatland ecosystem that the Omushkego call the “Breathing Lands,” along with large marine buffers in James and Hudson Bays. Highlights

Landmark deal recognizes Haida Nation’s title over Haida Gwaii / CBC
The B.C. government and the Council of the Haida Nation have signed an agreement officially recognizing Haida Gwaii’s Aboriginal title, more than two decades after the nation launched a legal action seeking formal recognition.

Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation creates first ‘blue park’ in Canada / Narwhal
A marine protected area managed by Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation has been designated a ‘blue park’ — an internationally recognized example of excellence in marine protection. And it is the first Indigenous-led blue park in the world. The 33.5-square-kilometre Gitdisdzu Lugyeks Marine Protected Area on the central coast of British Columbia encompasses Kitasu Bay, an area rich with herring, shorebirds, whales, sea lions and juvenile fish. The nation unilaterally declared a protected area in 2022, and began pursuing qualifications for blue park status shortly after.

Inside the Generational Fight for Indigenous Fishing Rights in Yuquot Bay / Tyee
‘It wasn’t just their livelihood that was taken, but their identities as fishermen.’ “In more recent years, efforts and progress have been made towards rebuilding a nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations, including the Mowachaht community, based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership,” according to a statement from DFO. It goes on to say, “today, DFO works closely with the community through collaborative programs, such as the Aboriginal Fisheries Program (AFS), consultation, bilateral meetings, and other means, to collaboratively manage fisheries and protect fish and fish habitat.”

Podcasts:

‘When you catch your first fish, the fish catches you’ Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard on fly fishing, salmon & saving the planet / The Last Salmon:
Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, wanted to live life and do things his own way.  In his 80s now and having given Patagonia away to help save the planet, Yvon is more likely to be found near a river bank fly fishing and he joins us to talk about his love of the sport and what anglers need to do help the plight of the salmon and of the planet.

E443 Technology and Commercial Fishing with Dr. Ussif Sumaila / The Blue Fish Radio Show
Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila from the University of British Columbia is widely known and highly regarded as an expert on the ability of off-shore commercial fisheries to fish sustainably. His opinions are shaping Canada’s entry into a new WTO agreement on the World’s first international sustainability Treaty. Listen as Dr. Sumaila speaks with Lawrence about the role technology is having on increasing fishing pressure around the world on The Blue Fish Radio Show.

Videos:

How this fish ‘slide’ helps keep invasive species out of critical habitats / Hamilton
Hundreds of fish are sorted through daily at Cootes Paradise Fishway. Large cranes and baskets used to protect native species and their wetlands.

Coming Up:

2024 Great Lakes Fishery Commission Annual Meeting Notice / GLFC
On June 4-6 2024 the GLFC will be holding their annual meeting in-person at The Westin Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario. Schedule and accommodations details now available.

June 21-23Atlantic Women on the Fly 4th annual Women’s Fly Fishing Workshop on the St. Mary’s River
Workshops bring in approximately 40-50 women anglers, with over half being new anglers. Participants cover topics such as fish handling, casting and spey casting, hatches and flies, tying, river etiquette, reading the water, and more.” To register, email: awotfcanada@gmail.com

Special Guest Feature – Fisheries Management Zone 18 new seasonal sanctuaries

Ontario Fishing Regulations

Zone 18 is located in southern Ontario and covers Ottawa, Perth, Cornwall, Kingston and Belleville. Zone-wide seasons and limits apply to all waters in the Zone except for the specific waters and species listed in the species exceptions and fish sanctuaries. Fish sanctuaries usually represent year-round fishing embargoes, but new sanctuaries have now been listed that represent seasonal closures that conform with the spawning seasons of popular fishes. Such temporary restrictions are meant to provide spawning fish with the opportunity to complete their spawning activity without being caught incidentally by anglers pursuing other species of fish that can be legally caught during the time of year when other fishes can not. It’s been scientifically proven that by preventing the incidental capture and release of fishes during their spawning cycles will improve the quality of fishing throughout the water body by ensuring a significantly higher likelihood of spawning success.

The scientific results generated by multi-year field research has now convinced the Zone 18 advisory committee and the Ontario Government to introduce seasonal sanctuaries on a number of lakes throughout Zone 18. Blue Fish Canada will continue to monitor the results of this new conservation measure.

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What’s New at Blue Fish Canada: Like many, I’ve been steering clear of the forward facing sonar debate raging across Canada and the U.S. Not because of the issues at stake, but to avoid getting drawn into some fairly heated discussions that seemed to be more about fishing access than sustainable fishing. And then I read about the Wisconsin department of Natural Resources survey on whether or not to ban the technology. So, today’s issue of the Blue fish News includes both an editorial on how this debate needs to move forward, and views about FFS from professional angler David Chong on The Blue Fish Radio show. And of course, there’s all the rest of the fishing, fish and habitat news from across Canada.

This Week’s Feature – Forward Facing Sonar Debate Escalates

By L. Gunther

I’m the last person who would want the evolution of technology designed to improve our ability to see to slow down for obvious reasons. People living without sight like me follow these sorts of innovations closely, and are usually the first to step up to purchase and test what are often very sketchy innovations being promoted as the next best thing to “seeing in the dark”. This time however, the debate concerns a new form of highly efficient underwater sonar technology being marketed to recreational anglers that represents a giant leap forward in how anglers can see fishes, the underwater structure fishes prefer, and even the lures we are using in real time. The problem is, not everyone believes it’s either fair or in the best interest of conservation. It’s called FFS or forward-facing sonar.

Electronic fish finders aren’t new. It’s technology that goes back easily forty years. But, in the past ten years significant advances have been made; testing the appetite of anglers to pay top dollar and discovering that price seems to pose no obstacle. Instead of looking down below the boat, we saw the introduction of side imaging, and then 360-degree imaging. This new forward-facing sonar or FFS goes further, providing anglers with a virtual spotlight of sorts that they can move about underwater to find fish as far as 50 meters away at all depths. Not only fishes, but promising underwater structure that is likely to be favored by fish, as well as their pray. It’s also powerful enough to reveal the angler’s lure in the water, and how the fish reacts to the lure, including the moment when the fish bites the lure in real time. But perhaps the most important advancement FFS represents is the ability for anglers to move about at slow speeds and find fishes that are in open water. Anglers now have an efficient means to locate fishes in open water that quite possibly have never been pursued or caught before.

From a fishing tournament perspective, FFS has provided competitors with a significant advantage over competitors who have yet to acquire FFS technology. Some also say it eliminates the advantage of those anglers who have invested considerable time and effort on the water to decipher the movements and feeding habits of fish. In short, it’s turned fishing into more of a “video game”, which is the other problem.

Watching competitive anglers fish using FFS is apparently quite boring. These anglers are constantly looking at the displays mounted on the bow as they move their boats around using their electric trolling motors. The only time they take a cast is when they spot a fish, and if it doesn’t bite, they don’t wait around, but instead continue their search for a fish that will. Five good bites are often all it takes to win a tournament.

The other problem people have with FFS is the increase in efficiency anglers have in terms of time and effort needed to catch their limit of fish. Fishing is no guarantee you will catch fish, never mind bring fish home. But with FFS technology, lakes that have been widely regarded as difficult places to catch fish are suddenly producing and doing so consistently. So what does this mean for fishing pressure and sustainable fishing?

At first many surmised that only top guides and competitive anglers would make the investment to purchase FFS, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Ice fishing is just one example of many where the popularity of FFS has exploded. Instead of having to drill dozens of holes through the ice in search of fish, an ice angler can simply drill one hole, lower their transducer, swing the device in a slow circle, and determine if there are fish nearby. After that it’s simply a matter of drilling a second hole where the fish were spotted, and lowering their baits.

Even if fish are being returned alive, there’s always the issue of barotrauma to consider. This occurs when fish are caught at depth below their capacity to return to that depth if brought to the surface. It’s true that all forms of sonar on the market allow anglers to search out and locate fishes at all depths, whereas before people had to troll lures at different depths and cover water with the hopes of crossing paths with such fishes. The ability to now efficiently find fishes in open water using FFS means more fishes may be subjected to barotrauma.

Fishes use swim bladders to establish neutral buoyancy at their preferred depth, but very few species of fish can make quick changes to the amount of air in their bladders, meaning fish that are brought up from extreme depth will experience difficulty swimming back down because their swim bladder may have expanded abnormally, keeping them near the surface where they are either spotted by birds-of-pray, or they eventually die from related health complications. There are ways to release excess air from the bladder using a hypodermic needle, and devices that can be used to lower fish to their preferred depth and then released. It may be that FFS will lead to new rules concerning the mandatory use of such equipment.

The debate around the use of advanced sonar technology has been long in coming. Whether its undermining local experience, increased barotrauma experienced by fishes, or the increase in capture efficiency, these issues have been simmering for years. So if FFS has put these discussions front-and-centre, what’s preventing regulators from addressing the fish health and sustainable fishing issues associated with the wide-spread adoption of sonar by anglers? Any reasonably well equipped fishing boat going back 25 years is equipped with at least one sonar device, and most of these now include a GPS and mapping component.

The days of imagining that there exist infinite numbers of fish are long over. We can now fairly accurately assess the status of any fish species if so desired. The problem is Canada has a lot of lakes and rivers, and not nearly enough human and financial resources to study exactly how many and what types of fishes live in each water body. It’s true our regulations have evolved over time to include catch-and-release by establishing size parameters for various species, in addition to the number any one angler can have in their possession. What we don’t have is data about how many fish are being removed each season from each water body. Regulators do conduct on-site creel surveys designed to estimate the number and fishing success of recreational anglers over a short period of time on a handful of specific bodies of water, but collecting such data is expensive and resource intensive.

Canada’s recreational fishing regulations rely on the premise that anglers will move on to other bodies of water when the quality of fishing reduces to a point that satisfaction can no longer be anticipated. When our ability to routinely catch fish begins to drop off, we simply move on to other water bodies where the fishing is better. This gives the fish in those over-pressured water bodies a chance to recover while anglers stay away. However, FFS now means fishing efficiency is improved, meaning even more fish from a specific water body can be caught and/or removed before the quality of fishing is judged by anglers as unsatisfactory. The consequence for fishes means it will soon take longer for their numbers to rebound, and what recovery means to anglers may also change given their enhanced ability to locate and catch fishes.

Talk to guys who remember what fishing was like before we had sonar, and they will all tell you it was better than it is now. It could just be that there were fewer anglers chasing more fish that had never been caught before and thus, easier to catch. Fish are getting smarter as they get caught-and-released, whereas before those same old-timers kept everything they caught, which is definitely not the case now.

According to the latest Statistics Canada recreational fishing survey conducted in 2015, on average about 2/3 of all fish caught are released. It’s also the case that guides and lodge owners know that their businesses depend on quality fishing, which means many now discourage their guests from harvesting fish unless the fishes being pursued are in plentiful supply. Most all recreational anglers also know that the quality of fishing depends on everyone doing their part, which is why this debate over FFS is so lively – anglers care.

To close, FFS technology is not only changing the way we fish, but also shining a light on how we fish. The fact is many of us are willing to purchase expensive sonar equipment such as FFS to improve our fish capture efficiency, but are we also using these technologies to be more selective of the fishes we catch, and to avoid incidental fish captures such as those fishes that would experience negative health impacts? And we still need to decide how fishing competitions should be based on rewarding the best anglers, and when the use of “performance enhancing” technologies should be banned.

Stuffing FFS technology back in the bottle is unlikely and isn’t necessary. Learning self-control and adopting more sophisticated and nuanced harvesting practices are becoming the new norm. These new fishing ethics are encouraged through social pressure, and will ultimately be enforced through regulations once enough anglers believe in the benefits of such practices. We have come a long way since our grandparents took us fishing with the goal of filling the stringer, but we must continue to evolve to become even better stewards of nature.

Link below to hear my conversation with professional angler David Chong on the Blue Fish Radio show. David is a top competitive bass angler and a representative of numerous fishing, boating and electronic brands. His insights and reflections on FFS are profound: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/e440-david-chong-on-forward-facing-sonar–59458104

Keep visiting the resource page on the Blue Fish Canada website to download the latest sustainable fishing tips. These are developed with input from local experts, knowledge keepers and fact-checked by top fishery biologists: https://bluefishcanada.ca/resources/blue-fish-sustainable-fishing-tips/

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

Fishing closures at Port Renfrew a serious mistake / Vancouver Sun
This newest closure would gut Port Renfrew’s economy, force what few fishermen and fishing guides are left to travel long distances up the coast, burning a lot more fuel into the environment as well as greatly increasing the chance for marine fatalities. We are told that it’s to save the resident killer whales from starving. We also read a lot of opposing science on the subject but very little science from the Department of Fisheries supporting this rash move.

Tagging brook trout proves that catch-and-release works / Outdoor Canada
We know from mark-and-recapture studies that catch-and-release works brilliantly on relatively hardy fish like bass, but what about more fragile fish like brook trout? It was the defining question that Rob Swainson, in charge of managing the most famous brook trout fishery on earth, needed to answer in order to gain acceptance for the special regulations that would rejuvenate the Nipigon River fishery.

How Canadian companies are reinventing commercial fishing / Globe&Mail
The centuries-old fishing process where vessels drag large, cone-shaped nets held open by a pair of one-tonne steel doors (which often make contact with the sea floor) was becoming costly amid reduced fishing grounds, restrictive quotas, rising environmental scrutiny and soaring fuel prices. “We needed to change to meet the new policies, but also make the operations better by reducing costs, fuel consumption, gear repairs and bycatch,” says Mr. d’Entremont. “We needed to start to figure out a different way to fish.”

Canada, Alaska suspend fishing of Yukon River chinook salmon for 7 years / CBC
In a bid to help the recovery of the Yukon River chinook salmon run, the federal government and the State of Alaska have agreed to implement a seven-year moratorium on fishing the species.

Our waterways are for everyone to share, protect and enjoy / Outdoor Canada
Harassment of any kind should never be tolerated, and that includes the harassment of anglers (and hunters, for that matter). And when necessary, it should involve the police. In my home province of Ontario, in fact, harassment of anglers or hunters can lead to charges under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, which states it’s illegal to interfere with anyone who is engaged in lawful hunting, trapping or fishing activities.

Putting the Cart Before the Redfish / Hakai
After a nearly 30-year hiatus, Atlantic Canada’s redfish fishery is coming back. But as opening day draws nearer, concerns about its viability are mounting.

Fish:

What to know about elvers / CTV
Tiny, translucent baby eels, called elvers, are back in the news after two Mi’kmaq men from Nova Scotia reported being detained by federal fisheries officers and then left far from home at 1 a.m. — without footwear or phones — after they were caught fishing near Shelburne, N.S.

865 million farmed salmon dead in a decade  / Nature.com
A study released earlier this month found that 865 million farmed salmon died prematurely in sea cages between 2012 and 2022. The staggering death toll represents a colossal waste and untold animal suffering. The authors blame intensive production techniques, climate change, and predict the problem will get worse.

Should We Factory Farm the Highly Intelligent Octopus? / Yale E360
New insights into octopus intelligence are fueling opposition to a Spanish company’s plans to build the world’s first commercial octopus farm. The company contends that raising octopuses for their meat will help conserve the creatures in the wild. But critics say that caging octopuses, which are increasingly understood to be highly sensitive and capable of solving complex tasks, would be cruel and inhumane.⁠ “Octopods should never be kept in large numbers in confined spaces,” says an expert in animal consciousness. “It leads to stress, conflict, and high mortality.”⁠

Get Ready for the Robotic Fish Revolution / Hakai
Scientists say swarms of robotic fish could soon make traditional underwater research vehicles obsolete.

Options to deal with whirling disease limited / Columbia Valley Pioneer
Precious little can be done to get rid of whirling disease now that it’s arrived in the East Kootenay, but residents and visitors must remain extra vigilant to keep it from spreading any further and to keep out other invasive species.

Meet the Killer Whales You Thought You Knew / Hakai
The iconic marine mammals may not belong to one species but several. Surprise!

Against the odds, wild fish spring to life in Lake Ontario / Narwhal
It’s springtime, which means migration and spawning for many Lake Ontario fish — and a good time to share the fascinating story of how many salmon and trout came to live in this Great Lake in the first place. Brook trout and Atlantic salmon are native to the lake, but in 1873, the federal government began stocking it with non-native salmonids — a large family of ray-finned, carnivorous fish — starting with chinook salmon. Coho salmon, steelhead, and brown trout soon followed.

For Marlin, Stripes Mean Stop / Hakai
Drone footage reveals that marlin flash their bright stripes before going in for a kill.

Rescuers Grapple with How to Save Distressed Sawfish / Hakai
In Florida, an effort is underway to bring endangered smalltooth sawfish to safety, following mysterious behaviors and deaths. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is documenting reports of abnormal fish behavior, including spinning and whirling, in the Lower Florida Keys. Along with this abnormal behavior, there have also been reports of fish deaths in these areas, including more than 28 smalltooth sawfishas of March 24. The Commission is leading an effort to investigate the abnormal behavior and cause of death. Efforts to collect and analyze samples are underway.

SIXTY YEARS OF JAWS / Safina Centre
Six Decades After the Film’s Release, Paul Greenberg Sheds Light on the Real Victims of Jaws. “Sharks as we would recognize them have been in the oceans for more than 350 million years… In less than a 700th of that time our species has made quick work of them,” writes Safina Center Writer-in-Residence Paul Greenberg in his new article. Unfortunately, the influence of Jaws goes far beyond the film industry, and reaches into the ways in which our species has viewed and treated sharks.

Habitat:

Adult Fish Struggle To Bounce Back In Marine Protected Areas / Science daily
Many marine protected areas are falling short of their most basic purpose: to rebuild struggling fish populations. In a new study, scientists looked at the age breakdown of reef fish in marine protected areas for the first time. They discovered in almost all of them, adult fish populations — vital to spawning the next generation — have either flatlined or declined. “It’s always difficult to prohibit fishing from any part of the sea — as if it goes against a basic human instinct,” said Melanie McField, co-author and director of the Healthy Reefs Initiative. “But fully protecting and enforcing these areas is the best way to grow bigger fish that can rebuild the populations and actually increase overall fish catches outside the fully protected areas.”

‘Forever’ chemicals found in excessive levels in Earth’s groundwater / CTV
Potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in surface and groundwaters around the world at levels much higher than many international regulators allow, a new study found. However, drinking water may only be responsible for about 20% of exposure, with the most significant exposures coming from food, dust and other sources.

Light at the End of the Tunnel / Hakai
Millions of killer culverts lurk beneath North American roadways, strangling populations of migratory fish. Now with a nationwide project, the United States is trying to fix them.

Fish, frogs and… pharmaceuticals? How researchers are addressing Ohio’s medicated streams / The Statehouse News Bureau
Researchers are testing Ohio’s streams and wastewater for pharmaceutical drugs. Algal blooms and forever chemicals often dominate the conversation around water quality in Ohio. But, researchers across the state say there’s another, lesser known threat to Ohio streams: medications.

Crabs, kelp and mussels: Argentina’s waters teem with life – could a fish farm ban do the same for Chile? / Guardian
Banning intensive salmon farming has helped one region in Argentina become a foodie haven known for its bountiful local seafood. But in neighboring Chile, open-net-pen salmon farms have proliferated, threatening artisanal fishing and biodiversity alike. Now, activists are pushing Chile and other nations to adopt a ban like Argentina’s.

Why is the U.S. cracking down on PFAS and what are these ‘forever chemicals’? / National Observer
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has put limits on certain PFAS, or so-called “forever chemicals,” in drinking water for the first time. PFAS are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used since the 1940s to waterproof and stainproof products — at a cost to human health. These chemicals have been linked to cancers, liver damage, high cholesterol and more. The new rules mean utilities will now need to look for six of these chemicals in drinking water and remove them if they exceed EPA limits. Limiting six chemicals doesn’t sound like much, considering there are more than 12,000 known PFAS, NPR’s Pien Huang reports. But experts she spoke to say it’s a strong first step. The EPA estimates it will cost $1.5 billion each year for water companies to comply with its new rules. Huang says consumer water bills may go up eventually, but the federal government has dedicated billions of dollars for PFAS removal as a first resort.

Discussing the Environmental Impacts of Zero Lake Ice / 13ABC
Lake Erie experienced record-low ice coverage this winter, raising concerns about fish health, erosion, and harmful algal blooms.

The first step to stopping invasive Asian carp is recognizing them. Here’s what every angler should know / Outdoor Canada
Like enemies at the gate, invasive carp are threatening to populate the Great Lakes. Collectively known as “Asian carps,” bighead, black, grass and silver carp are notorious for outcompeting native fish and destroying habitat, including wetlands. The most imminent threat comes from grass carp, which have reproducing populations in two U.S. tributaries of Lake Erie. So far, bighead, black and silver carp remain confined to the Mississippi River. Should these fish-farm escapees become established in the Great Lakes, they would also severely damage the region’s US$556 million a year sportfishing industry by harming populations of everything from bass to muskies. Anglers can serve as the first line of defence against these aquatic invaders, however, and that starts with being able to identify them.

Scientists Are Sweating Over Freakishly High Marine Heat / Hakai
While some experts believe global temperature anomalies adhere to climate crisis predictions, others are alarmed by the speed of change.

In Graphic Detail: Gluts of Ghost Gear / Tyee
Researchers from the University of Tasmania in Australia surveyed fishers from seven countries about their use of five different gear types: gillnets, purse seines, trawl nets, longlines, and pots and traps. From the surveys, the scientists calculated annual gear loss rates for each fishing method and extrapolated that to fishing efforts around the world. The researchers estimate that fishing vessels lose around two per cent of their gear every year, a staggering amount when taken together.

Indigenous:

From the Torngat Mountains to the Labrador Sea, a new Inuit-led protected area takes a step forward Narwhal
A marine conservation area covering 16,791 square kilometres of ocean off the Nunatsiavut coast has been deemed feasible and desirable — a key part of establishing the project led by Labrador Inuit. The Nunatsiavut Government has led the charge to create a marine conservation area, working in conjunction with Parks Canada — which falls under Environment and Climate Change Canada. Currently, in order for Indigenous-led marine conservation projects to be federally recognized, a federal agency has to be a partner, be that Parks Canada or Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Industry:

Learn more about becoming Rainbow Registered / Destination Northern Ontario
In today’s tourism landscape, diversity and inclusion are paramount for creating vibrant and immersive travel experiences. Despite Northern Ontario’s celebration of various cultures and backgrounds, many tourism businesses still lack diverse representation in their workforce. Embracing diverse perspectives enriches visitor experiences and fosters innovation and creativity in our offerings.

Arts:

Marine Endangered Species Art Contest / NOAA
Teachers: Celebrate Endangered Species Day (May 17) by having your classroom or individual students participate in the 2024 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest! located in New England and the mid-Atlantic United States, we invite participants from anywhere in the world to submit entries! Artwork should highlight one or more marine endangered or threatened species from the New England/Mid-Atlantic region.

Podcasts:

E440 David Chong on Forward Facing Sonar
While some can’t wait for the debate about forward facing sonar to end, others believe we aren’t finished by a long shot. Regulators in the U.S. are actually surveying anglers for their views on whether the technology should be banned. We reached out to professional angler David Chong for his views on the topic. David is one of Canada’s top professional bass anglers and a long-time representative of many fishing, boating and electronic brands. Welcome back David to The Blue Fish Radio Show!

Special Guest Feature: TAKE THE SURVEY – Would you support banning the use of live scopes, and similar 360° imaging electronics?

Recent move made by a state agency signals next-level concerns over forward-facing and 360-degree sonar. How can the Wisconsin DNR Spring Hearings potentially affect anglers nationwide? Because this round, they’re calling out fishing technology.

The first step in the process is getting public input on questions concerning potential legislation. That first step is happening now and the WI DNR is accepting online comments. (You do not need to be a Wisconsin resident to participate.)

Question #22 stands to be the most controversial amongst anglers. It reads as such:

Background for Question #22: Ban live scope: With the ability of these types of units to detect fish, as far as 180’ from the user, anglers have become more efficient at locating and catching fish. This type of pressure could reduce fish populations, which may lead to reduced bag limits for anglers.

About us:

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March 25th, 2024

What’s New at Blue Fish Canada: Report and Grant writing season is winding down, thank goodness. I have to admit, I both fear and hope all of our grants are approved. Hope, in that everyone at Blue Fish Canada are ready and excited about the projects being proposed, and fearful that it’s going to mean more work. But don’t worry, we are cognisant about “mission creep”, and in no way are we being led off in new directions that won’t build on our experience and reputation. The other good news is that we have settled on an insurance company that we believe, and so do they, that the coverage being offered is a good fit with our programs. This search wasn’t simple as few insurance companies want to insure charities, and even less-so if they serve “vulnerable youth”. We now have concrete proof that Blue Fish Canada’s commitment to provide programs to people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and identities comes with an actual price. My whining about all this has to do with the editorial I wrote for this issue that celebrates the people who run and work in non-profit organizations. People such as Terry Rees, who just left the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations after 20 years, and Robert Pye, who just took over at Watersheds Canada . Two of many selfless yet passionate people looking to make a difference.

This Week’s Feature – Champions of Nature

By L. Gunther

While preparing reports and submissions for new grants over the past few months I’ve been reminded of Blue Fish Canada having reached its 12th anniversary. Planning new projects involves looking forward, of course, but more importantly, it requires that one take a good look back. I heard something similar from an indigenous elder who said, moving forward is best accomplished by walking backwards, that way you never lose sight of where you came from. He explained that monitoring your forward direction takes only occasional glances over your shoulder, but remembering what you have said, done, promised, and achieved requires more of an effort to make sure we never forget the people and lessons learned along our path. It’s an interesting perspective and one that certainly contradicts much of what we hear these days from popular “life coaches”.

Another thing I’m growing ever more conscious of is the amazing people I meet while carrying on my work, which for a number of us also happens to be our passion. Whether it was during my tournament fishing days and the professional responsibilities I took on to represent various fishing and boating brands, or now with respect to my involvement in conservation. Each of these distinct circles includes their own unique groups of people. And what I’ve discovered over the years is that not only the number of people that make up these circles isn’t as infinite as I first assumed, but it’s also these same people who do the lion’s share of the heavy lifting.

Every person who leads a non-profit depends on grants to fund the work of their organization. Each year it’s the new projects that win the competition for grant funding, as very few of these funding sources will consider funding existing projects. It’s also the case that paying the salaries of your staff can only make up a small portion of the funds being requested, which means multiple grants are needed to cover 100% of each staff members’ pay. Of course, depending on volunteers to do the work is one way around this dilemma, but can’t always be counted on for meeting milestones throughout the life of a project, or for developing ideas of what should come next.

Meeting shifting granting priorities and paying salaries certainly adds stress to people who run or work in NGOs. So, why is it then, the same people keep stepping up to run the conservation and environmental charities that we count on to fix nature? There are less stressful ways to make a living, and yet, they seldom seem to burn out or quit, or even complain. In many ways, these people have become my personal heroes, but it’s not something I would ever admit to in their presence. These aren’t people who want or expect to be aggrandized by their friends or staff.

You won’t get to know them for the awards or public recognition – all of which they seldom receive. They also aren’t spending every moment of the day figuring out how to get in front of the media’s cameras, or posting on social media day-after-day so algorithms keep them trending. You might see them once a year if you pay to attend an annual fund-raising auction or dinner organized by their board of directors, or on location at some environmental catastrophe related to the work of their organization such as the death of a popular snapping turtle or fish kill. Where you will see them, time-and-time again, are at meetings, symposiums, conferences, consultations, and other meetings specifically meant to gather together all those who have an interest in conservation. It’s then that these leaders come out from behind their desks, not to jockey to get their turn behind the microphone, but to mostly listen to what others have to say.

One such leader I’ve had the privilege of getting to know over the past ten years is Terry Rees, soon to be the past Executive Director of the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations, or FOCA. Terry has led this organization amazingly well for the past 20 years and will be sorely missed, but not necessarily gone. Who knows where he might pop up next, because it’s my observation that such champions never really go away, they just find new challenges where they can continue to pursue their passion for making nature better, stronger, or pretty much back to how it was years ago.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Terry about his reflections, concerns, hopes and fears. Not so much an “exit interview”, but at a time in his life when he’s reflecting on his career. You can listen to our conversation on The Blue Fish Radio show. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/terry-rees-and-his-20-years-with-foca–59155876

Another champion that just moved over to a new challenge is Robert Pye. As the new Executive Director of Watersheds Canada, Robert is applying his years of experience with communicating important information about nature to keep this amazing organization growing in its ability to undertake crucial shoreline and fish habitat restoration. You can listen to my recent conversation with two amazing champions of the outdoors, Robert Pye and Melissa Dakers from Watersheds Canada on The Blue Fish Radio Show: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/watersheds-canada-on-fish-habitat–59155869

Who are your heroes? Is there someone in your circle that deserves some well-earned attention as they reach a personal milestone? Drop me an email with the details and how to get in contact so we can learn more about how they too reflect on their journey while walking backwards towards their next big challenge.

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

Ottawa celebrates signing a watershed ocean treaty / Penticton Herald
Canada has signed a landmark global ocean agreement on the first anniversary of the historic document’s creation.

B.C. fishers fined $29K for illegal catches at fishing lodge / CTV
Three people, including the operator of a British Columbia fishing lodge, have been fined $29,000 after they were found guilty last month of multiple fishing-related offences.

Remember the Salmon War? / Watershed Watcher
Alaskan fleets today catch more B.C. salmon and steelhead than B.C. fishers do.

Lake Erie Committee Sets Walleye and Yellow Perch Total Allowable Catches / Binational Lake Erie Committee
Total Allowable Catch (TAC) decisions are made by consensus of the Lake Erie Committee. The 2024 lake wide walleye TAC of 12.858 million fish is a 4.9% decrease from 2023. The walleye population remains strong following numerous years of successful hatches; however, a slight reduction in TAC is due to average Walleye size increasing in 2024 resulting in a smaller decline in harvested biomass compared to the decline in number of fish. The 2024 combined Yellow Perch TAC is 6.554 million pounds of yellow perch, a 0.3% decrease from 2023. Poor recruitment of yellow perch in the central basin continues to be a challenge, although the population is showing signs of stabilizing.

Introducing Our Salmon Advisory Panel / Ocean Wise
Ocean Wise has launched the Salmon Advisory Panel to tackle the challenge of identifying sustainable salmon options in British Columbia. Comprising of leading experts in B.C. salmon, the panel combines unique knowledge and guidance with Ocean Wise’s Rapid Assessment Standard. The goal? To enhance Ocean Wise’s ratings for locally sourced salmon.

Anglers and Biologists Introduce New Fishing Tournament / Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
The Midwest Walleye Challenge will give anglers in states across the Midwest a chance to compete for prizes while collecting important data for biologists.

The collection of angler catch data during the Nebraska challenge can help the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission learn more about Nebraska walleye fisheries. In the process, Nebraska anglers can see how their walleye fisheries compare to others in the Midwest.

Fish:

Lagging spawning and increasing phenological extremes jeopardize walleye / Wiley Press Room
Walleye are creatures of habit, and the seasons—especially winter—are changing so fast that this iconic species of freshwater fish can’t keep up. The timing of walleye spawning—when the fish mate and lay their eggs—has historically been tied to the thawing of frozen lakes each spring, says the study’s lead author, Martha Barta, a research technician at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Now, due to our changing climate, walleye have been “unable to keep up with increasingly early and more variable ice-off dates,” says Barta.

Mass die-offs among farmed salmon on the rise around the world / BBC
Warmer seas and greater reliance on technology are linked to hundreds of millions of farmed salmon deaths.

Protecting at-risk chinook populations as others flourish / Watershed Watcher
Last year saw exceptional returns of two populations of chinook salmon.

Whistleblower video raises concerns about fish welfare at B.C. caviar farm / Salmon Arm Observer
No violations were found during the site visit, but BC SPCA and DFO are reviewing hundreds of hours of footage.

Over $300K in grants for N.B. Atlantic salmon projects / Country 94
The Foundation for the Conservation of Atlantic salmon has announced its 2024 grant recipient partners dedicated to the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon habitats and populations.

New Decade Dialogue: Saving Salmon, Watersheds, and Food Webs from 6ppd-q / Ocean Decade Collaborative Center

Even very low levels of pesticide exposure can affect fish for generations / ScienceDaily
Fish exposed to some pesticides at extremely low concentrations for a brief period of time can demonstrate lasting behavioral changes, with the impact extending to offspring that were never exposed firsthand, a recent study found. The findings raise concerns not just for fish, but for all vertebrates that are exposed to commonly used pesticides — including humans, said study co-author Susanne Brander, an associate professor and ecotoxicologist in Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center.

Satellites track the tiny silver fish hugely important to marine life / National Observer
Herring spawning produces a turquoise water colour so vibrant it can be seen from space! This annual event is critical for the food web and brings many species to nearshore areas, including salmon, seals, sea lions, and whales.

Habitat:

‘Immediate threat to Canadian waters’: Here’s what the Invasive Species Centre wants you to know about grass carp / ISC
Researchers have found evidence of naturally reproducing invasive fish species in the Great Lakes, causing an “immediate threat to Canadian waters,” says the Invasive Species Centre (ISC).

Cleanup cost of Teck’s Elk Valley mines is billions higher: report / Narwhal
A new report finds the price tag to treat water contaminated with selenium in the Elk Valley could be $6.4 billion — more than three times the amount reported to the B.C. government.

Are Canada’s lakes becoming salty? / Watersheds Canada
Recent research has highlighted concerning news: there has been a pronounced escalation in the salinization of our freshwater bodies over the past twenty years. If this trend continues, many Canadian lakes will reach critical levels in the next 40 years. Elevated salt concentrations can severely impair aquatic flora, lead to widespread fish deaths, and turn these freshwater zones inhabitable for many species. The implications extend beyond individual organisms; heightened salinity can reconfigure food webs and perturb natural cycles.

Volunteer tossers replenish nutrients with dead salmon in Saanich creek / Saanich News
Slimy salmon work way better than frozen for the annual salmon carcass transplant, and Mother Nature provided with near 19 C weather for the PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy event on Saturday.

Great Lakes Advisory Board Studies Explore how to Better Combat Nutrient Imbalances in Lake Erie / IJC
Canada and the United States set a goal in 2016 to reduce phosphorus loads entering Lake Erie by 40 percent from 2008 levels, but have made limited progress. The International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Science Advisory Board, in collaboration with the Great Lakes Water Quality Board, recently published two reports that focus on addressing the delicate balancing act of nutrients in Lake Erie.

Multiple fisheries projects received funding to advance research / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Thanks to $1.3 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will fund three projects in 2024, which will aid in restoration of sustainable populations of coregonines in Lake Ontario to reestablish their historical roles as forage for predators.

Indigenous:

Of Gitnuganaks, Glaciers, and Life at the End of the Last Ice Age / Hakai
Off the British Columbia coast, scientists guided by Indigenous knowledge are unearthing evidence of island life long, long ago.

Boating:

Old Town® Introduces Limited Edition Autopilot / FishingWire
The Old Town Sportsman Autopilot from Johnson Outdoors remains the pinnacle watercraft for hands-free fishing. Anglers can command this high-tech kayak using the I-Pilot remote with just the touch of a thumb. The fully integrated 45lb thrust saltwater-ready motor leverages Minn Kota’s Spot-Lock technology, enabling anglers to motor to their fishing spot faster and virtually anchor with the push of a button.

Arts:

New Salmon Conservation Stamp / PSF
Chosen from 19 entries in this year’s competition, Dale Cooper was awarded first place with his submission titled Pursuit. The painting will be featured on this year’s Salmon Stamp, a required purchase to catch and keep any Pacific salmon caught in the marine environment. PSF’s Community Salmon Program uses the Stamp’s revenue to grant up to $2 million annually to more than 200 salmon conservation projects.

Podcasts:

E437 Watersheds Canada on Fish Habitat
Lawrence Gunther speaks with the new Executive Director of Water Sheds Canada Robert J. Pye, and Melissa Dakers, Habitat and Stewardship Program Manager, about their work on creating resilient fish habitat on The Blue fish Radio Show. Robert has many years of experience in promoting fishing and conservation, and Mel is led the charge to expand the charity’s shoreline restoration programs to include shoreline wetlands and fish habitat. Learn how their programs operate year-round, how you can get involved or learn more, and some exciting news about what’s coming up! This is our 3rd episode featuring Watersheds Canada over the past six years, and we are excited to witness the evolution of their focus on fish!

E438 Terry Rees and his 20 years with FOCA
Director of the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations for twenty years, and recently announced that he will be moving on. Terry’s leadership on countless water quality issues over the years has served the over-500 cottage associations that are affiliated with FOCA, and the knowledge and experience he’s amassed is significant. Terry is our guest on The Blue Fish Radio Show where he talks about a wide range of issues, strategies, programs and regulations meant to maintain a strong one-health relationship between property owners and the waters they love and appreciate.

Scientists and Local Champions:

Newly Appointed Canadian Commissioners Chiblow and Phare Working Toward Greater Indigenous Collaboration / IJC
Canadian Commissioners Dr. Susan Chiblow and Merrell-Ann Phare share a common background and goal: extensive work with Indigenous Peoples and personal commitments to continued collaboration and engagement.

Chiblow was recently appointed as the International Joint Commission’s second Indigenous Commissioner. Phare was appointed to a second term.

Calls to Action:

Survey on Recreational Fishing in Canada’s Northern Indigenous Communities / IGFA
Share your opinion with the International Game Fish Association for a chance to win a $200 gift card. Your responses will help Northern Canadian communities develop sustainable fishing tourism offerings. The survey takes about 10 minutes

20 Years of Observations from a Water Enthusiast / Water Canada Magazine
Terry Rees issues a call-to-action to all fellow water enthusiasts, alongside his observations about what is changing on Ontario’s waters and what must be done about it.

Coming Up:

April 6, 3rd annual St Lawrence River Musky Anglers’ workshop.

This session brings together Canadian and US musky anglers to share research on the St. Lawrence River musky crisis (invasive gobies, loss of habitat, disappearance of YOY, and New York’s efforts to restock dead spawning  bays with fry to repopulate these formerly productive nurseries, and the citizen science program to monitor these fry 5 years later as they become mature and catchable by anglers. They’ve been tagged with micro chip tags that are readable with special readers in kits for anglers. It’s state of the art research and citizen (angler) science. April 6, 9-12. Everyone who fishes and cares about the legendary St. Lawrence muskellunge should attend this important session and have their say with the OMNRF. To register send an email to: r.b.macrae@icloud.com

Great Lakes Harmful Algae Conference / register by April 8th!
On April 18, 2024: 12:00PM – 1:30PMJoin PST, the Decade Collaborative Center and our expert speakers to learn more about 6ppd-q, its impacts on salmon, watersheds and food webs, and what action is being undertaken to prevent it from reaching critical salmon habitats and waterways.

Special Guest Feature – Clean Drain Dry Initiative Releases Annual Accomplishment Report / FishingWire

Wildlife Forever is proud to release the 2023 Clean Drain Dry Initiative annual accomplishment report. Through partnerships, on-the-ground efforts delivered critical invasive species prevention infrastructure and a nationwide public service campaign reaching over 83 million impressions.

Invasive species are a leading threat to the 206-billion-dollar outdoor industry in the U.S. When established, they can dramatically change the ecosystem and impact communities dependent on safe and reliable natural resources. The 2023 Report showcases national efforts to coordinate communications and prevention marketing by delivering on-the-ground strategies that empower the public and prevent spread.

“Tools at the access to clean boats and equipment are wise investments against increasing threats. Education and awareness must also remain a top priority to ensure public users understand best practices for prevention,” said Pat Conzemius, President & CEO of Wildlife Forever.

2023 Highlights Include:

• Risk assessment and access enhancement implementation in the Columbia River Basin
• Citizen Carp Control advocacy efforts to support commercial harvest and processing
• Initiation and development of a new mapping tool to aid traveling boaters in doing their part to prevent invasive species

About us:

Subscribe to receive the Blue Fish Canada news in your inbox.
Read back issues of the Blue Fish Canada News
Please rate The Blue Fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast.
Email us your news or podcast story ideas.
Donate to Blue Fish Canada, a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity.

What’s New at Blue Fish Canada: Where did February go – certainly wasn’t spent doing a lot of ice fishing, not that we here at Blue Fish Canada had time to spare. Thank goodness for a few cold days. Otherwise, we’ve been busy preparing grant submissions, exhibiting and speaking at both the 4-day Ottawa Boat and Outdoor Show and the Invasive Species Forum. Arranging insurance for the new Blue Fish Exploration Centre has been challenging to say the least. Our goal is to provide youth, their families, youth groups, and researchers of all abilities, backgrounds and identities with access to nature at its finest. Turns out not that many insurance companies have an appetite for insuring centres that provide experiences to everyone including those deemed “vulnerable”. We caved on ice fishing for now, but canoes, kayaks, boats, and all the rest is still a go. And in the meantime, enjoy the news including this issue’s editorial on the state and future of Canada’s small-scale commercial fisheries. Normally, Blue Fish Canada sticks to recreational fishing, but given the numerous overlaps, how can we ignore the plight of our commercial fishing friends.

This Week’s Feature – Small Scale Fisheries, Are they the Answer?

By L. Gunther

For years we have blamed international shipping for releasing non-native species of plants and animals conveyed in their bilges. These giant ships certainly are at fault, but new regulations brought into force have prevented any new invasive species carried aboard cargo ships from entering the Great Lakes for close to 20 years. And yet, we continue to blame cargo ships when, in fact, scientific evidence now points to small watercraft as responsible for the current wave of invasive species spread. Ontario’s new small craft regulations are meant to reduce the spread, but many still have doubts that their fishing boats can cause such aquatic chaos.

When I created the documentary “What Lies Below”, several of the stories concerned the impact of large-scale commercial fishing on fish stocks. Anger among small-scale commercial fishers, indigenous fishers and recreational anglers over industrial fishing harvesting excesses and incidental bycatch remains strong, and rightfully so. But, as commercial fishing excesses are dialed back through aggressive quotas and harvest tracking, the fish stocks targeted by these commercial fishing boats are beginning to show signs of recovery and stability in many of the territorial waters of Canada and the U.S. More science and fact-based quotas are still needed, but we seemed to have turned the corner. So why is it then that the public and many in the fishing industry still believe that large scale fishing vessels are ruining the oceans, and more importantly, that small-scale commercial fishers are the solution needed to bring an end to over-harvesting?

When I witnessed the demise of the North Atlantic cod stocks leading up to the closure of the fishery in 1992, the blame was clearly assigned to giant fishing ships. The reality though, the days of commercial fishers building their own wooden dories, equipping them with engines from cars or trucks, had most definitely come to an end. Wooden dories were replaced with a brand-new fleet of steel, aluminium or fiberglass boats equipped to fish for several days if not weeks at a time. The fishing equipment they were deploying no longer entailed fishers jigging hand lines, but instead deployed seine nets, miles of long lines, and hundreds of large traps, all of which could be efficiently deployed and recovered using powerful mechanical winches. Sonar and sophisticated navigation equipment made it possible to quickly locate and track schools of fish. In short, Canada’s Atlantic fleet of well equipped modern in-shore fishing boats were catching up to the harvesting capacity of their larger off-shore competition. The same thing is now taking place on Canada’s west coast with respect to the commercial fishing of salmon. And yet, many still argue that small scale commercial fisheries are more sustainable than having a few large industrial fishing ships chasing the same fish.

Some argue that one large ship is more efficient and produces fewer greenhouse gasses than having many smaller boats using fossil fuel to travel to and from the fishing grounds. This could all become a moot point should hydrogen some day become the fuel of choice. We have also just learned that large nets dragged across the sea floor stir up considerable amounts of previously captured carbon, causing it to be reintroduced into the ecosystem. Outboard motor manufacturers have been forced to switch from two cycle engines to cleaner burning four stroke motors in Canada and the U.S, but one hears nothing about regulating the emissions of the commercial fishing fleet?

The fact is, regulating large numbers of independently owned small-scale fishing vessels takes considerably more resources than overseeing a few large industrial-sized vessels. Cost of regulatory enforcement, however, should not be a determinant when deciding who has rights over the harvesting of wild fish. But, when it comes to the bottom-line cost advantages of large vessels over smaller scale fishing boats, up until now it’s been the marketplace that decides who prospers, and it would seem that industrial commercial fishing boats are best suited for supplying low-cost seafood.

There’s little doubt the public is bias towards small scale fishing operations and regard large offshore fishing vessels as little better than the “Death Star” in Star Wars. People are of the belief that owners of small businesses are far less likely to intentionally destroy the source of their on-going prosperity, unlike a distant corporately controlled industrial fishing vessel that can extract fish to the point of the stock’s collapse, and then move on and REPEAT.

In short, perceived value of the resource being harvested is based on more than simple economics. The public is all-too aware that the social and economic sustainability of the community itself is on the line. We all know what it means for a single industry dependent town to have its industry shut down. And yet, when we shop for groceries, the choices of over half of Canadians are made based on price.

We all know that small scale fisheries give local people the chance to succeed. It’s not just one corporation or distant owner who is reaping the profits. Instead, it’s a bunch of local entrepreneurs and deck hands that are generating the wealth, and then spending their profits right there where they live so others might benefit indirectly. It’s this knowledge that has convinced many Canadians to pay extra for their seafood with the belief that they are supporting more sustainable fisheries. But, how can we stop consolidation from taking place EVEN AMONG THESE HARVESTORS?

We are witnessing across Canada owners of agricultural operations grow in size as their numbers shrink each year. One-by-one they purchase or lease the land of their neighbours, ending the chance of the children of such neighbours to keep the family farm alive. Such consolidation is driven the same way the fishing sector expanded, through the adoption of larger, more efficient and costly farming equipment.

No longer is it possible for an individual to take up farming or fishing due to the high cost of equipment, land or licenses. Banks won’t offer loans to new businesses with such high up-front costs unless the applicant can guarantee the loan. The reason why we still have small-scale farms left in Canada is because a number of farming sectors like dairy require a license that specifically states exactly how much each farm is allowed to produce. It’s the deregulated farm sectors like corn, wheat and beef that are hollowing out Canada’s farming communities due to farm consolidation. Many of Canada’s fisheries are facing the same pressures.

Fishing licenses are meant to share access to the bounty that grows wild in the ocean and lakes. In most all fisheries the license places limits in the form of the total seasonal quota the combined fishery is permitted to harvest, and at the same time, leaving it wide open to which vessels will secure the greatest share of the quota. Hence, spurring on demand among license owners for larger vessels and more efficient technology. In most cases, being a bigger boat just means you get home sooner. Similar to farming, we incentify fishers to constantly modernize their vessels, squeezing out those without deep pockets.

When Atlantic Canadian commercial fishers were forced to stop fishing for cod, few other options remained. Lobster licenses can only be secured when an existing license holder exits the industry. Pressure mounted on other fish species such as dog fish, striped bass, halibut and flounder, all of which stocks were quickly harvested beyond their sustainable limits. The saviour for a few came in the form of snow crab, the licenses for which were allocated using a lottery. I’m told about one-in-three subscribers to these license lotteries during the mid-1990’s came away with a license. These lucky few could fish for 24 hours and come back with $10,000 in snow crab, and that was 30 years ago. The season was short, but long enough that license holders were earning six figure incomes, while those fishers without licenses faced hard times and welfare. It wasn’t hard to point out who among the small fishing communities scored the snow crab licenses by their new trucks and home renovations. Ten years later lobster fishers in Atlantic Canada were being offered $1 million for their licenses by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, who in turn distributed the licenses to First Nations fishers along with boats, traps and other equipment purchased from the exiting lobster fishers.

These government-controlled assignments and redistributions of wealth at the community level may seem unreal but are very much associated with the socio-economic sustainability of Canada’s coastal fishing communities. And while all this is taking place, others with the means have been busy consolidating their wealth by acquiring through purchase or lease the fishing licenses of others, and purchasing larger in-shore fishing vessels required to harvest their growing share of the resource.

Canada may have already passed the point where it can reel back in the consolidation of the fishing industry. It’s also the case that fewer people are interested in fishing as a career due to its inherent risks – commercial fishers have the highest rate of accidental death compared to all other professions in Canada. Just like Canada’s agriculture-based communities, the fortune of coastal fishing communities seem to be experiencing a similar fate.

I’m not an economist and I don’t pretend to have the answers. Even economists won’t predict the future. But I will say that for a country that possesses the longest coastline in the world and shares the most valuable freshwater fishery in the world with the U.S., doesn’t it make sense that we don’t want everyone moving to the cities? Who will be left to watch over and harvest the fish.

We know from experience that we can’t assume that fishers will self-regulate their harvest. It means departments such as DFO need to work collaboratively with both First Nations and non-indigenous communities, and undertake and share the science needed to create the regulations, quotas and systems for overseeing small-scale fisheries. Just as importantly, the evolution of fish harvesting technologies means reaching agreement on where to draw the line, including putting a stop to the consolidation of licenses and quotas. Maybe follow through with the proposal that license holders are aboard the boat doing the fishing? It’s not rocket science.

A last thought concerning what we can learn from Canada’s agriculture sector. Even though the numbers of farms in Canada is shrinking each year, there is growth among the number of farms that generate less than $100,000 in annual sales. These are new farms started by people under 35 years of age, and who are meeting the growing demand for community supported agriculture. We are beginning to see a similar increase in small-scale fishers participating in community supported seafood. These aren’t the people producing boxes of inexpensive fish sticks, but just maybe it’s a sign that the seafood sector is beginning to swing back to producing seafood that’s sustainably harvested, fairly priced, and authentic.

As always, the above aren’t all my thoughts and ideas. I benefit from being able to speak with those with expertise and experience. Such is the case with the new e-book I had the honor of contributing to “Thinking Big about Small-Scale Fisheries in Canada” edited by Evan J. Andrews and Christine Knott.

The book’s forward, prepared by Ratana Chuenpagdee of “Too Big to Ignore”, , , states “Thinking Big about Small-Scale Fisheries is a collection of stories and evidence that can help address the misconception about small-scale fisheries. By virtue, the book is a proof that small-scale fisheries, both Indigenous and non-indigenous, do exist in all Canada’s oceans, coastal and freshwater ecosystems. The chapters illustrate why small-scale fisheries in Canada matter. The contributors provide compelling arguments of why better management and governance of small-scale fisheries is imperative, especially for the overall sustainability.”

Link below to listen to my conversation with the book’s co-editor Evan J. Andrews, and Kristen Lowitt, one of several co-authors of the chapter I contributed to “Declining Fish Health and the Communities Impacted: Insights from the Great Lakes Fish Health Network”, on The Blue Fish Radio Show: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/e432-thinking-big-about-small-scale-fisheries–58908077

The book “Thinking Big about Small-Scale Fisheries in Canada” is free and can be accessed at:
https://tbtiglobal.net/book-release-thinking-big-about-small-scale-fisheries-in-canada/

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

COVID-19 reduced recreational fishing effort during the black bass spawning season, resulting in increases in black bass reproductive success and annual recruitment / ScienceDirect
In Opinicon Lake, Ontario during two non-pandemic years (2019 and 2022) the hook-wounding rates from recreational angling observed among nesting male largemouth bass Micropterus salmonids (LMB), and nesting male smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu (SMB), were quite high, but typical of those observed in the lake over the last 20 years of monitoring. That level of illegal, preseason angling resulted in very low percentages of both LMB and SMB nesting males being successful at raising their broods to independence, rates comparable to those observed for this lake in previous years. In 2020 and 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, however, access to fishing in Ontario was severely limited during the bass spawning season, which serendipitously provided a natural “whole-lake bass spawning sanctuary” to study. Not surprisingly, the hook-wounding rates for nesting male LMB and SMB in Opinicon Lake were the lowest rates ever observed over the last 30+ years. Concomitantly, the percentage of nesting male LMB and SMB that were successful at raising their broods to independence was approximately 3–4 times greater than that in the non-COVID years. Not unexpectedly, those increases in nesting success translated to similar increases in LMB and SMB reproductive success (production of post parental care, independent fry). More importantly, those increases further resulted in large increases in the annual recruitment of both LMB and SMB. This unanticipated COVID-driven experiment revealed that using bass spawning sanctuaries would be more efficient than closed seasons as a management strategy to conserve levels of black bass annual recruitment.

Unintentionally caught Chinook salmon contributes to population depletion / 1170 KPUG-AM
Chinook salmon native to the Nooksack, Skagit and other regional rivers were among thousands wasted as commercial fishers’ bycatch off the coast of Vancouver Island.

Thousands sign petition calling for longer N.L. recreational food fishery
A petition calling for a much longer recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador has collected more than 2,200 signatures.

Fish:

New fisheries science shows that big muskies eat almost anything / Outdoor Canada
For muskies, perch were the most important item, but they only accounted for about a quarter of the diet. Suckers and invertebrates each accounted for about 10%. And then bullheads, northern pike, bass and sunfish all made up about 5% of the diet.

‘Silent extinction’ feared for steelhead trout across B.C. / Kamloops BC Now
Steelhead trout numbers are staggeringly low across B.C., and conservationists are concerned a lack of data is only making matters worse.

New details emerge about fish die-off in Cowichan River last summer / Chek News
The provincial and federal governments say multiple factors led to the fish die-off in Cowichan River last summer.

Good news for salmon recovery in Petitcodiac River / CBC
After 14 years of working to restore the Atlantic salmon population in New Brunswick’s Petitcodiac River and its tributaries, things are looking up for Atlantic Salmon. A new bridge is making it easier for fish to swim upstream, and juvenile populations are now on the rise.Habitat:

A recent study reveals alarming levels of toxic medicinal drugs in the St. Lawrence River / Freshwater Future
A recent study reveals alarming levels of toxic medicinal drugs like caffeine and ibuprofen in water and sediment samples in the St. Lawrence River. The pollution originates from wastewater treatment plants and poses immediate risks to the health of both the river and its aquatic life.

A voyage into a vanishing Arctic world / The Guardian
The abundance of diverse life in the Arctic Ocean is mesmerizing, especially given the cold and dark conditions. From filter-feeding feather stars to spoon worms with meter-long tongues, a variety of marine creatures call these waters home, and scientists are racing to determine how climate change is affecting one of the world’s least-explored seas.

Balancing act: A policy success story in the Great Lakes / Michigan Sea Grant
Implementing the “swish and spit” method successfully reduced the risk of AIS introductions from transoceanic ballast water. Since 2006, there have been no confirmed introductions of AIS to the Great Lakes through ballast water exchange. This rare success story is an example of what can happen when scientists, policy makers, regulators, and industries work together to find solutions.

Invasive earthworms are reshaping North American ecosystems / Earth.Com
According to a new study led by Stanford University, at least 70 species of invasive earthworms have made their way into North American soil. Non-native earthworms have begun to stress native plants, trees, and wildlife by altering soil properties and encouraging the spread of invasive plant species.

Why Fraser River oil spill took nearly 3 months to start cleaning / Narwhal
A landslide in early December caused a spill that First Nations leaders say endangers prime sturgeon habitat in the Fraser River. The spill was triggered by a landslide that knocked over a tanker truck container on the slope of the company’s rock quarry, impacting prime sturgeon habitat, according to Takoda Castonguay, community support assistant with the Emergency Planning Secretariat, an organization supporting rapid response for 31 Coast Salish First Nations. First Nations waited nearly three months for cleanup to begin, leaving them with concerns about B.C.’s emergency response regulations.

Report on uses of Great Lakes waters in 2022 / Great Lakes Commission
A recent report released by the GLC found that 40.8 billion gallons of water per day were withdrawn from the Great Lakes basin in 2022, about a 3% decrease from 2021 withdrawals. Considering both consumptive use and diversions, the basin gained a total of 869 million gallons per day in 2022.

Superior: The Warming of the World’s Largest Lake
Lake Superior holds ten percent of the world’s surface freshwater. While Superior is known for its shockingly cold water (making swimming a thrill), it is one of the fastest-warming lakes in the world. A new documentary “Sea Change for Superior: The Warming of the World’s Largest Lake” discusses the history of this great lake and its watershed, perspectives from Indigenous communities and how the changing climate is affecting the lake.

Indigenous:

How First Nations are taking the lead in saving Alberta’s trout / Outdoor Canada
Better known as the Rocky Mountains, Miistakis has been sacred to countless generations of Niitsitapi, the Blackfoot people. Extending from the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River south to Yellowstone country, the “backbone of the world” is the source of almost all the usable water in Canada’s prairies. It’s also home to some of the country’s best surviving stocks of westslope cutthroat and bull trout, two native fish species that are sought-after by anglers, but at increasing risk of extirpation.

First Nations group criticizes federal fish policies, conflict of interest in B.C / Vancouver Sun
The First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance says the federal Fisheries Department is mired in a conflict of interest stemming from its dual regulatory and promotional responsibilities. The Alliance’s chairman Bob Chamberlin described it as like “marking your own homework.”

B.C. First Nation suing Canadian government over fishery closure / Salmon Arm Observer
Heiltsuk Nation on B.C.’s central coast is suing the Canadian government over a 2022 decision by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) that banned the nation from its commercial harvest of herring spawn-on-kelp (SOK) fishery.

Canada proposes shutdown of troubled Maritime elver fishery in 2024 / CBC
The federal government has served notice it intends to close the commercial fishery for baby eels, or elvers, in the Maritimes this year — six weeks before the season is set to open. Last year, hundreds of unauthorized fishers flooded to rivers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick eager to cash in. Many were Indigenous harvesters claiming they were exercising their treaty rights to fish and did not require government approval.

Yukon First Nations, advocates push for chinook salmon protection at parliamentary committee / CBC
Yukon River chinook salmon competing against teaming hatchery pinks for food in the ocean, the territorial and the federal governments passing the buck to each other and mining and hydroelectric dams killing the fish — those are just a few of the problems delegates raised.

Arts:

Meet Tiare Boyes, the harvester-artist championing sustainability in the fishing industry / West Coast Now
The second-generation fisherman is an artist, photographer, diver and environmentalist.

Books:

The book “Thinking Big about Small-Scale Fisheries in Canada” is free and can be accessed at: https://tbtiglobal.net/book-release-thinking-big-about-small-scale-fisheries-in-canada/

Podcasts:

Thinking Big about Small-Scale Fisheries in Canada / The Blue Fish Radio Show
The E-book is a collection of stories and evidence that can help address the misconception about small-scale fisheries in Canada. Link below to listen to Lawrence Gunther in conversation with the book’s co-editor Evan J. Andrews, and Kristen Lowitt who co-authored the chapter “Declining Fish Health and the Communities Impacted: Insights from the Great Lakes Fish Health Network”, on The Blue Fish Radio Show.

Videos:

How Humans Affected the Spread of Zebra Mussels / ISC
Over the past 35 years Zebra Mussels have invaded 33 US states and have spread from the Canadian border to the Mississippi river delta. These small invasive mollusks cause large amounts of ecological and economical damage every year. Once established in an environment they quickly outcompete native species, foul water systems, and cause infrastructure damage. During this presentation, our guest presenter Erin Sanchez will show how the human influence of water vessels affected the spread of Zebra mussels across the United States.

Webinar Recording:

Connecting the Dots on Assessing and Reporting Ecological Health in the Great Lakes Region / Latornell Conservation Symposium
Discover how watersheds are assessed using science-based data at different scales. Brought to you by Conservation Ontario, Credit Valley Conservation, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Calls to Action:

‘Water You Thinking About the Great Lakes?’ / IJC
Latest IJC Great Lakes Water Quality Board Poll seeks public opinions in a new online poll about the Great Lakes, water quality issues and other topics related to restoring and protecting this unique freshwater system. Take the poll by March 15.

Coming Up:

Evaluating the Ecological Impacts of Waves and Shoreline Erosion on Nearshore Habitat in the St. Lawrence River / Science and Nature
Join the St. Lawrence River Institute for Science + Nature on March 13th at 6:45 Eastern at the Cornwall Public Library or virtually over Facebook to learn about wave cycle science and its relationship to shoreline erosion and aquatic habitat quality. For the last two years, the Great River Network, River Institute, University of Ottawa, South Nation Conservation, and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority have been working together to gain a better understanding of wave action and its impacts on our shorelines.

Special Guest Feature – Halls of Fame Inductees

CANADIAN ANGLER HALL OF FAME WELCOMES NEW INDUCTEES GORD ELLIS AND ANDY PALLOTTA / Spring Fishing and Boat Show

Gord Ellis has a 30-year career spanning many facets of outdoor communication. He’s written several thousand articles as the senior editor of Ontario Out of Doors, columnist for Northern Wild and a frequent contributor to Quebec’s Sentier Chasse Peche. Ellis is also a fishing guide, popular seminar presenter and a familiar voice on CBC radio in Thunder Bay as a reporter, newsreader and outdoor columnist.

Andy Pallotta is a well-known figure in Canadian sportfishing industry circles, Pallotta is the president of Canadian Outdoor Sport Shows Inc, a family run operation. Involvement includes more than 65 events a year, such as consumer shows and tournament fishing events across Ontario, including the Spring Fishing and Boat Show.

Tom Brooke receives prestigious Rick Amsbury Award of Excellence!

Retired Shimano executive Tom Brooke is recognized for his lifetime contributions to sportfishing and fisheries conservation. In particular, Brooke is lauded for his contributions to tournament fishing in Canada by leading the charge to find better handling methods of fish, and the introduction of live-release boats, the Water Weigh In system and other procedures to reduce fish mortality.

Highlighting leaders in conservation, sportsmanship, and angling excellence / IGFA
International Game Fish Association Announces Prestigious 2024 Annual Awards Recipients. Highlighting leaders in conservation, sportsmanship, and angling excellence. This year’s award winners include Canada’s own world-renowned distinguished aquatic conservation professor Dr. Steven J. Cooke. Dr. Cooke has diverse interests in integrative biology, conservation science, and natural resource management. His work spans the natural and social sciences with a particular focus on developing solutions to problems facing fish and other aquatic organisms. Specific projects of late have focused on issues and topics such as fish migration, fish-hydropower interactions, the sustainability of recreational fisheries, aquatic habitat restoration, the movement ecology of fish, the ecology of stress in wild fish, and winter biology. He has also been deeply involved with defining the new discipline of “conservation physiology” – a field dedicated to understanding the mechanisms underlying conservation problems.

About us:

Subscribe to receive the Blue Fish Canada news in your inbox.
Read back issues of the Blue Fish Canada News
Please rate The Blue Fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast.
Email us your news or podcast story ideas.
Donate to Blue Fish Canada, a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity.

What’s New at Blue Fish Canada: As the Chair of the Great Lakes Fish Health Network, I’m fortunate to be in the company of a team of terrific scientists and advocates who care about Great Lakes water quality and fish health. Not only do fish live in water, they are made up of about 80% water, making it especially important that the water they breathe, drink, harvest their food from, and absorb can both support life and provide a relatively stress-free existence. Having said this, we often measure the quality of a fish’s life by its ability to provide humans with food that won’t cause health impacts – healthy fish, healthy us – one health. To be sure, scientists are hard at work measuring fish health for both their and our benefit. But, can we truly depend on the quality and reliability of this research? A new report just published questions whether fish consumption advisories are telling us everything we need to know. The report was prepared by a number of us who contribute to the Great Lakes Fish Health Network; a summary of the report is the feature article in this edition of the Blue Fish News. And if that’s not enough, our guest contribution concerns a second recently released report that looks into Awareness of Impacts of Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes. Two report summaries, plus all the latest fishing, fish and habitat news, and a special podcast featuring the amazing artist Nick Mayer!

This Week’s Feature – Navigating the tricky waters of fish consumption advisories in the Upper St. Lawrence River

by K. Lowitt, A. Francis, L. Gunther, B.N. Madison, L. McGaughey, A. Echendu, M. Kaur, K.A. Roussel, Z. St Pierre, and A. Weppler.

Fishing in the St Lawrence River is a practice undertaken by thousands of anglers each year and deeply tied to the lifeways of Indigenous peoples. Fish consumption advisories (FCAs) are public guidance intended to help all fishers make informed decisions about the safe consumption of their catch. However, what happens if there are multiple advisories in place in a watershed? Such is the case in the Upper St Lawrence River, which spans the traditional territory of multiple Indigenous Nations as well as the jurisdictions of Ontario, Quebec and New York State.

Our research examined the similarities and differences in FCA programs across jurisdictions in the Upper St Lawrence River.

We find an overall lack of coordination in fish monitoring and differences in consumption advice for a waterway in which fish, contaminants, and fishers all move across political borders. For example, for yellow perch caught from the St. Lawrence River in Ontario where mercury is the dominant contaminant of concern, the general population is advised to consume up to eight to 32 meals per month (depending on the size of the fish) and children/women of childbearing age (i.e., sensitive population) are advised to consume up to four to 16 meals. However, across the river in New York State, the general population is advised to eat only up to four meals per month of yellow perch and children/women of childbearing age are advised “Do Not Eat” due to concern of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Differing guidance can be confusing for fishers and make it difficult for individuals and communities to make decisions that affect their health. Importantly, not everyone bears the impacts of contaminated fish evenly. Women of childbearing age, children, anglers who rely on recreationally caught fish for food security, and Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by the health and cultural risks of contaminated fish. FCAs also generally do not consider the risks or benefits of different eating practices. Indigenous communities, for example, have traditionally eaten a greater range of parts of the fish (e.g., skin, organs) in addition to the flesh, and these parts can have different contaminant loads.

Moving forward, we recommend four key steps for improving FCAs: (1) developing a shared and transparent approach to monitoring fish and contaminants, (2) integrating cultural food practices, (3) conducting more outreach with angler populations, and (4) upholding the self-determination of Indigenous communities in the development and communication of FCAs.

Link below to read the paper
Governing for transboundary environmental justice: a scientific and policy analysis of fish consumption advisory programs in the Upper St Lawrence River
https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/full/10.1139/facets-2023-0072

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

Hundreds of jobs, industry stability at stake in pending Atlantic Canada fishery decision / CBC
The Trudeau government is poised to allocate fishing access to the massive redfish population in the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the end of the month, a highly anticipated decision generating both dread and hope throughout the industry in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Seabed Trawling May Be Spewing Huge Amounts of CO2 Into the Atmosphere / Smithsonian Magazine
A study published last week in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science finds that bottom trawling releases as much as 370 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, roughly double the greenhouse gas emissions from the fossil fuels burned by the world’s fishing fleets. When the heavy fishing gear is dragged across the seafloor, it stirs up long-buried carbon, which microbes convert into carbon dioxide. The study also found that about 40 per cent of the carbon dioxide released into the water stays there. In enclosed seas, like the Mediterranean, it can cause local ocean acidification, which can weaken and dissolve the shells of crabs and sea urchins and hamper the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon.

Fish:

Salmon, The Masters of Adaptation / SkeenaWild Conservation Trust
In the research recently published in Global Change Biology, Dr. Price and colleagues at Simon Fraser University and Fisheries and Oceans Canada used 100-year-old salmon and climate data to report that a variety of lake habitats in the Skeena watershed is fostering a diversity of responses by salmon to climate change.

Citizen science-based initiative monitoring salmon to continue at Pender Harbour / My Coast Now
A citizen science-based initiative is gathering oceanographic data in the Salish Sea to learn more about salmon return changes in B.C. and Washington State.

New round of grants awarded to community-led salmon conservation / PSF
The Pacific Salmon Foundation Community Salmon Program has awarded $792,304 in grants to advance 65 community-led salmon restoration, education, and stewardship projects across B.C. and the Yukon. For more than three decades, the Community Salmon Program has empowered volunteers, local streamkeepers, Indigenous communities, and schools to take proactive measures to recover Pacific salmon and their habitats.

2024 Atlantic salmon and striped bass management / ASF
There is a smolt survival crisis in the Miramichi estuary. Smolt leave the river system at precisely the time when half a million predatory striped bass aggregate in the estuary to stage for spawning. During the last two springs (2022 and 2023), less than 5% of acoustically tagged smolt from the Northwest Miramichi survived through the estuary. The results manifested clearly at the Northwest Miramichi conservation barrier in 2023, with only 6 grilse returns, down 98% since 2011.

Can Animals Evolve Fast Enough to Keep Up with Climate Change? / Hakai
“Many creatures have a surprising capacity to cope,” says Sarah Diamond, an evolutionary ecologist at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Ohio. The traditional conception of evolution presents it as a gradual process, slowly shaping organisms over hundreds or thousands of years. In some cases, however, species can adapt much more quickly. Research conducted over the past couple of decades has shown that evolution can occur on timescales similar to those of climate change. By figuring out what factors set the speed of evolution, scientists are hoping to identify what conditions give animals the best chances of keeping pace with the rapidly changing world.

Ocean sunfish are odd, gentle giants
The ocean sunfish or Mola mola is a large and odd-looking fish. Large specimens can reach 14 feet (4 m) vertically and 10 feet (3 m) from mouth to fan-shaped “tail.” And they can weigh nearly 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg). They appear to be newcomers to the planet. Scientists think they’re one of the most recent fish in the sea.

Habitat:

Freshwater invasive species are pointing B.C. towards catastrophe / Georgia Straight
Incredibly destructive freshwater invasive species are pounding on B.C.’s door, but the federal government and energy utilities with everything to lose seem oddly unconcerned, writes B.C. Wildlife Federation executive director Jesse Zeman.

Adventures in West Coast Kelp Farming / Tyee
Fall in Prince William Sound, Alaska, is a stormy affair, with rain, wind, falling temperatures and diminishing daylight. But for kelp farmers like Skye Steritz, it’s a time to be outdoors in rubber boots and rain gear, prepping for the winter growing season. This includes long hours of what Steritz calls “line work,” the labour of stretching lines and building the floating arrays that by spring will support thousands of kilograms of kelp.

Can recreational fishing and offshore wind farms coexist? A resounding ‘yes’ / Angling International
When developed responsibly, offshore-wind power can coexist with — and even improve — fishing along the East Coast. Offshore-wind power can benefit recreational anglers if developed with our input in mind. In addition to reducing the carbon emissions that are driving climate change, the turbine structures will provide hundreds of fishable artificial reefs and current breaks that will attract numerous fish species.

Unsettled Pacific Ocean Offers Few Clear Indicators for Salmon Success in 2024 / NOAA
Researchers at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center track key ocean indicators, such as seawater temperature and salinity, and the number and types of tiny crustaceans called copepods. These indicators correlate with juvenile salmon growth and survival—and how many adults will return to rivers to spawn. The ocean indicators of juvenile salmon survival reflect a rapidly changing ocean that is tough to predict.

Ontario’s Greenhouse Sector is A Fuel for Harmful Algae in Lake Erie / Narwhal
Harmful and toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie triggered an agreement by the Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio state and provincial governments to reduce phosphorus pollution by 40% to the lake. Unfortunately, one of the inputs of phosphorus appears to be the proliferation of vegetable and cannabis greenhouses in southwestern Ontario. A study by the local Conservation Authority found that phosphorus levels in Leamington, Ontario streams are 100 to 200 times higher than the provincial target and were more concentrated in streams with greenhouses. The provincial Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has handed out few regulatory actions for violators of environmental protection laws concerning management of nutrients in recent years. Enforcing existing regulations on agricultural operations is essential to reduce the pollution to Lake Erie.

Indigenous:

Four Manitoba First Nations sign historic conservation agreement / Narwhal
Four First Nations in Manitoba have signed a historic memorandum of understanding, a step toward the creation of an Indigenous protected area in the pristine 50,000-square-kilometre Seal River Watershed region. The pristine 50,000-square-kilometre Seal River Watershed region would be the province’s first federally recognized Indigenous protected area.

Boating:

Yamaha buys Torqeedo
DEUTZ sells Torqeedo to strategic investor Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. DEUTZ today announced a further milestone in the repositioning of its portfolio as part of its Dual+ strategy: Torqeedo, the world’s leading manufacturer of outboard and inboard drives, will be sold to Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (“Yamaha”).

Art / Books:

Nick Mayer is a successful artist who focusses on painting fresh and saltwater fish in-and around North America. His work is so highly regarded even your spouse will appreciate it on your walls. Nic also features his art in books like: a book to read to the kids NEW Fish ABCs an Angler’s Journal and a Wild Oceans Coloring Book and more. He’s an artist who loves to paint as much as he enjoys fishing. Check out his art at: Nick Mayer Art

Podcasts:

It’s always a pleasure to speak with artists who have a focus on fish on The Blue Fish Radio Show. Nick Mayer has been earning his living full time painting fish and related fish art, and judging from the reaction in my own home, a truly extraordinary artist. His mission is to connect people with nature through appreciating it’s beauty. Not only does Nick paint, but he’s caught over 75 species of fish on a fly rod including sailfish, sharks, tarpon and muskie. You can learn more about Nick’s work at: https://www.nickmayerart.com.

Enjoy the podcast as Nick and I discuss his journey from marine biologist to successful artist: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/e425-nick-mayer-on-painting-fish-for-a-living–584941855

Videos:

Guichon Creek daylighting and fish ladder / Global News
Many urban streams, like Guichon Creek, face obstacles to fish passage and the poorly designed culverts and spillways can be every bit as damaging to the movement of fish as large dams. The building of a new urban fishway through an old spillway (or small dam) in the midst of greater Vancouver addressed one of these concerns. The British Columbia Institute of Technology, a renowned local construction firm, and river advocate Mark Angelo made it a reality.

Webinars:

Scientists and Local Champions:

Destination Northern Ontario is set to restructure its Product Development teams in 2024. As we look to the future, we are asking stakeholders to engage in two virtual meetings for Product Development per year and participate in focused sessions during the Northern Ontario Summit (NOTS). The working group will collaborate and share their collective knowledge on how best to approach the enhancement and expansion of the sustainable tourism opportunity by exploring:

• Develop and promote eco-friendly tourism initiatives.
• Highlight sustainable practices to preserve Northern Ontario’s natural beauty.

Please get in touch with m.boyd@destinationnorthernontario.ca

Bass Fishing HOF Continues Scholarship Program / Best on Tour
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) is proud to announce the second year of its Fishery Management Scholarship Program. Recognizing the critical role of fishery management professionals in ensuring the health and vibrancy of bass fisheries across the U.S. and Canada, this program aims to provide financial support and encouragement to high school and college bass anglers pursuing careers in this vital field. Up to $15,000 will be awarded in June 2024 to selected applicants. Applications are now open and can be submitted through the BFHOF website.

Coming Up:

• February 12-15: 2024 Invasive Species Forum / ISC: Lawrence Gunther will be a presenter!
• February 20-22: 29th Annual Wetland Science Conference
• February 22-25: Ottawa Boat and Outdoor Show: Blue Fish Canada will be an exhibitor and presenter!
• March 5-7: Great Lakes Commission Semi-annual Meeting and Great Lakes Day 2024
• March 18-22: Great Lakes Fishery Commission 2024 Lake Committee Meetings.
• April 13th, 2024 / Muskie Odyssey / Muskie Canada
  The 2024 Muskie Odyssey will take place at the Delta Toronto Airport & Conference Centre. To register as a vendor, you must complete the Registration Form and Payment.
• May 12-16: International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species (ICAIS) in Halifax.

Special Guest Feature – Exploring Awareness of Impacts of Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes Basin: Voices from the Underserved and Underrepresented Communities

Canadian Environmental Law Association

There are communities and individuals in the Great Lakes basin who disproportionately bear the negative impacts associated with toxic pollution. The voices of these communities and individuals are usually left out of environmental policy and processes designed to address the impacts of toxic pollution in the Great Lakes.  The lack of involvement makes these communities vulnerable to environmental injustices, because of the lack of their representation. The absence of special consideration of the impacts facing people who are underserved and underrepresented weakens the efforts to curb the negative impacts from toxic pollution in the Great Lakes basin.

The authors of the report conducted an inventory of some existing mechanisms and approaches used to share science, specifically, chemical-related information with marginalized communities. They also organized and facilitated small focus group discussions with various marginalized community members to engage and collect specific information related to awareness and information needs related to chemical exposure, risk, fish consumption advisories and other chemical-related information.

Results generated by the focus groups revealed that The impacts of toxics on the local economy, primary industries such as fishing, human health, especially children’s health were widely held concerns. Toxic pollution impacts on nonhuman species were also a concern for many participants. Most participants who conveyed their concerns about water safety questioned if the water was safe to drink, and if the fish were safe to eat.

The report’s authors point out that many of the recommendations they put forward in their report apply to all of us, i.e., academic institutions, government, non-government environmental organizations, industry etc.

Report recommendations include the need to work jointly with underserved and underrepresented communities to find the best ways to increase awareness of and discuss solutions to improve communication. The report recommends that improving communications should include working in partnership with the communities they are to be used, and that information be provided that is of greatest relevance to the particular community. It should also be  publicly accessible and easy to locate, contain timely up-to-date information, and present data in a jargon free manner, without acronyms, without use of technical unexplained terms, etc. Focus group participants also requested that information be provided in a variety of depths, formats and languages, and that it include interactive types of tools including components specially designed for children and youth.

About us:

Subscribe to receive the Blue Fish Canada news in your inbox.
Read back issues of the Blue Fish Canada News
Please rate The Blue Fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast.
Email us your news or podcast story ideas.
Donate to Blue Fish Canada, a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity.

What’s New at Blue Fish Canada: Along with all of you, we here at Blue Fish Canada are patiently waiting for ice to firm up and winter fishing to begin. But, that doesn’t mean we have been busy twiddling our thumbs. Along with ice fishing, we need to fit into winter time for grant writing, event calendar planning, and sponsorship reporting and renewal. Yup, 2024 is underway even though all outward signs would suggest otherwise. And before I forget, thank you all for sharing your words of encouragement and appreciation, it made the teams’ taking off a few weeks to be with family and friends that much more special!

This Week’s Feature – Ownership of Canada’s Shorelines and Responsibility for Fish Stewardship

Prepared by President Lawrence Gunther

In 1986 I purchased a half-acre on Catalone Gut in Cape Breton Nova Scotia and took possession of what to me was my first shoreline property. I remember the lawyer I hired to close the deal telling me, “There’s only so much shoreline, and once it’s all purchased it’s gone.” Of course, I was more interested in the fish that I imagined living beneath the waves of the brackish water that began where the mouth of the Catalone River broadened out to 1.5 km in width for a 5 km stretch before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. It didn’t take long before I was obsessed with learning the habitats and seasonal movements of the Brook Trout, Pollock, Cod and Atlantic Salmon that lived in, or migrated through the gut between the ocean and the river. Fish aside, I was also curious about the history of the area and who may have spent time on my 70 meters of shoreline before me?

Catalone Gut had no more than a couple dozen shoreline property owners, most of us having purchased our lots from descendants of a family that homesteaded a quarter section of land over 100 years earlier, and then subdivided the land to sell off the more lucrative shoreline lots. It was a legal process established to encourage settlers to generate economic activity on what the government considered to be unused land, and led to more complex legal transactions that further deepened legal title to these properties, as well as wealth generation by their further development and sale. It all seemed completely legitimate at the time. I was led to believe that my purchase made me the second owner of a small piece of Canada’s wilderness, which technically may have been the case, but which we have now come to realize isn’t necessarily the truth.

I always suspected deep-down that surely there must have been others who followed this shoreline either by foot or canoe, and quite possibly have occupied the land at some point. After-all, France had established Fortress Louisburg as its centre for governance and trade in Atlantic Canada in 1713 just 20 kilometers away.

Throughout my 14-years of owning land and a cabin in Cape Breton, a First Nations man named Donald Marshall was in the news a lot. First, with his being wrongly found guilty and sentenced for murder, and then charged in 1983, a year after being released from prison, with harvesting and selling fish out of season and without a license. Twice in his life Donald Marshall would have criminal charges over-turned, culminating in his securing a Supreme Court victory in 1999 reaffirming his right to fish commercially. Donald’s latest victory was based on his being a member of a Mi’kmaq First Nation community located on Cape Breton that had entered into a treaty with the Crown in 1760 affirming their right to fish and hunt. His Supreme Court ruling paved the way for indigenous people across Canada to earn a “moderate” commercial livelihood from fishing and hunting, subject only to conservation requirements.

What happened to Donald and his seemingly impossible fight in one court after another signified the beginning of a seismic shift in how non-indigenous commercial fishers could engage in commercial fisheries in Canada from which they and their ancestors had prospered for over 500 years. Ironically, it was seven years before Donald’s supreme court decision was handed down that the Atlantic Cod fishery had collapsed and was shut down, throwing tens-of-thousands of Atlantic Canadians out of work, myself included.

The First Nations Mi’kmaq people who live in Nova Scotia, for the most part, exist separate from the vast majority of the descendants of those who began arriving following John Cabot’s arrival in Cape Breton in 1487. It’s a disconnection that settlers seldom spoke about until Donald Marshall won his Supreme Court ruling, and now with reconciliation. The socio-economic divide between Cape Breton’s Mi’kmaq and settlers reminded me in several ways of my own challenges at the time.

Despite my spending 14 summers in Cape Breton and making many friends, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was never fully accepted as a member of the community. I came to learn that being regarded as “from away” was not unique to Cape Breton, but an experience I shared with others who visited or moved to Atlantic Canada – people who did not possess deep local family ties in the region. Sure, I made friends, but seldom received invitations to community celebrations. And, when I spoke to others from away who moved to the area to work, I was told that taking a job from a local often led to being “black-balled”, a term describing the social isolation of being physically acknowledged but socially excluded.

I also understand what it is like to be stereotyped. As a person without sight, my own position and value within society is often regarded as inconsequential, or worse, a drain on community resources. Thankfully, technology has allowed me to assimilate into the mainstream of society by becoming recognized as a contributor. Eliminating exclusionary practices such as residential schools for the blind and the adoption of Canada’s Charter of Rights and freedoms in 1982 have also facilitated the mainstream socio-economic integration of people like me with disabilities.

Learning about the arrival of European settlers to Cape Breton, or what was once referred to by the French as Port Royal, is explained in part by historic actors hired to animate Eastern Canada’s largest living museum, Fortress Louisburg. I was a frequent visitor to the fort to learn how settlers lived over 250 years before my arrival in the area. Much of the Fortress within the walls had been restored, but other than one stone home meant to replicate the typical housing of a Cod fisher, nothing was rebuilt outside of the fortress walls. References to Mi’kmaq people who traded with fortress settlers were sparse. As with the textbooks I was provided in school, few details were shared about indigenous people throughout North America.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Abraham Francis, a Mohawk from the First Nations community of Akwesasne located on the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall Ontario. Abraham and I talked about his people’s historic relationship to the land, the water and the game, and how this all suddenly and relatively recently changed. First with the introduction of settlers and the wars they brought to the region, and then the environmental impacts heavy industry had on the land and water. Abraham explained how toxins were introduced into the land and water had forced his people to turn away from the water. To suspend their reliance on fish for food and trade due to health warnings over fish consumption.

Having grown up in a culture that defined itself on land and home ownership and the right to private property, I find it difficult to imagine what it was like to live the blend of nomadic and community life Abe described. Yes, I stir my deeply imbedded internal feelings of provider when I fish, but I come from ancestors who strove to own land and to farm.

Both my parents were born on farms in Europe. My father’s family lived as farmers in Ukraine for three generations, and were then displaced during World War II, resulting in my family’s farm being seized and my father’s father being sent to Siberia. At age 18 my father found work on a farm where he met my mother. That farm would eventually belong to my mother’s younger brother, so my father and mother moved to Canada to start over yet again.

I learned to understand what my father lived through, and I think this helps me to understand what indigenous people in Canada must feel. The difference is my father was able to relocate, start over, and not experience systemic discrimination even though he came from away. Indigenous people not only lost their land but have faced all manner of discrimination for hundreds of years. We are only just starting to gain awareness of what this all entails.

Link below to listen to my conversation with Abraham Frances, environmental scientists, Mohawk of Akwesasne, on The Blue Fish Radio Show. Abe is sorting through what happened to his people who have lived for thousands of years along the shores of the St. Lawrence River. He’s working hard to restore and rebuild his community and their connection to the land, water and fish. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/e423-abe-frances-on-mohawk-fn-connections-to-fish-and-fishing–58298561

Our contamination of fishes in the St. Lawrence River, whether intentional or not, have seriously undermined the Mohawk’s people’s way of life, similar to how the collapse of the cod fishery in Atlantic Canada ended 500 years of small-scale local fisheries. Expecting Mohawk people to turn their backs on the river after thousands of years due to the legacy of heavy industrial activity is similar to our forcing the closure of coastal communities in Atlantic Canada due to large-scale industrial over-fishing, it’s just wrong and should never have happened. In order to rectify these injustices, we also need to sort out who owns and controls which land and resources.

The current system of reservations and crown land fails to acknowledge indigenous rights and treaties. Donald Marshall may have established a precedent overfishing rights, but this too needs to be interpreted and implemented more widely as excluding indigenous fishers from commercial fisheries is another on-going injustice.

Many difficult discussions still to be had, but good relations mean having such conversations. All this would be made easier if we knew more about indigenous people, their culture, values and history, something that’s still sorely lacking in our schools and throughout Canada.

Stay tuned for more in-depth analysis of small-scale fisheries, their social, economic and conservation benefits, and why reconciliation isn’t a simple matter of turning over industrial-scale fisheries to indigenous-led incorporations if we are going to establish strong and sustainable commercial fishing opportunities throughout Canada. Many indigenous leaders acknowledge that establishing truly sustainable commercial fisheries will take a “two-eye” perspective, which sounds to me like a pretty good place to start. Finding commonality is another.

The Latest Fishing, fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

In Canada, women-only ice fishing is about more than fish / CS Monitor
Ice fishing in North America traces back about 2,000 years to Indigenous communities, but for the last century has been a sport dominated by men. Now groups like Ontario Women Anglers are introducing more women to the beauties of the “hard water,” in an extreme embrace of winter. “Being on a frozen lake is kind of like walking on the moon. When the ice is building, it’s actually an audible noise that kind of sounds like whales,” says Capt. Barb Carey, who founded Wisconsin Women Fish because all of this felt inaccessible to women at one time.

Find Aerated Lakes Near You / ACA
The Alberta Conservation Association has created a map that showcases the combined stocking efforts of ACA and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. With over 130 lakes and ponds stocked with trout across Alberta, you can easily find an ice fishing haven near you. Did you know that Alberta has over 20 aerated lakes across the province that are stocked with trout? Aeration can weaken the ice layer causing open areas of water. Please do not approach the open water surrounding the aerators. Swimming in your winter clothes is not recommended!

Great Lakes ice season off to slowest start in 50 years of records / USA Today
It’s the slowest beginning to ice formation in 50 years of recordkeeping, with an infinitesimal coverage of less than 1% on Jan. 1, since researchers began officially measuring Great Lakes ice cover  in 1973, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario were completely devoid of ice, while just 0.1 percent of Lake Michigan was covered. Lake Superior had ice covering 1 percent of its surface. The lakes typically hit their peak ice concentration in February or early March. This year, they’re under the influence of a strong El Niño, bringing a short-term warming trend to the region, but scientists say evidence of the long-term climate change also can be seen in the region’s ice formation trends. Already this winter two ice-related fatalities have been reported in Minnesota and dozens of fishers have been rescued.

At Sharkathon, Shark Fishers Are a Keen Audience for Conservation Advice / Hakai
Every fall, more than 900 recreational anglers in Texas gather their gear and wade into the blood-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico for Sharkathon. In this four-day catch-and-release shark fishing tournament, anglers vie to land the biggest shark they can, seeking a share of the roughly US $80,000 prize pool. The sharks and the prize purses are huge: in 2022, the top award, worth $20,000, went to the fisher who ensnared a nearly three-meter-long hammerhead. But that year, Kesley Banks, a marine biologist at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, went home with a prize of her own. During that year’s Sharkathon, Banks and her colleagues shared tips with participants about keeping sharks healthy while they’re on the hook. The researchers documented how anglers handled their catches, and in a recent study, they show that the interventions worked. Sharkathon anglers took Banks’s pointers to heart, giving the apex predators a better chance of surviving the ordeal of being temporarily ensnared.

The Unwinnable Battle Over Forward-Facing Sonar / Outdoor Life
Until 2018, no fishing technology had advanced so far that a genuine fear emerged over its potential to alter fisheries and the entire sport for the worst, but that’s exactly what’s happening with forward-facing sonar. Recently, the issue has come to a head after the technology was banned in a popular bass tournament. The implications of that decision could alter the future of professional bass fishing, but the cases both for and against forward-facing sonar are anything but cut and dry.

2023 Season Recap: Find out how BC’s salmon returns and fisheries fared / Greg Taylor
Fishing is always a trade-off between conservation and economic benefits in the context of the impacts of climate change on salmon abundance, diversity, and now markets. With Russian production creating such huge changes in international markets, should we be planning fisheries in the same way we have in the past? Should it be business as usual? Or do we need to reevaluate the costs and benefits of fishing? It is an intriguing question that DFO is addressing through its five-year, $647-million Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative program. We are closer to the end of the program than the beginning and are starting to understand how DFO intends to re-evaluate these trade-offs.

How crowded are the oceans? New maps show what flew under the radar until now / The Verge
New maps created with satellite imagery and AI reveal some of the under-the-radar, potentially nefarious activities occurring at sea. With unprecedented precision, the maps expose tremendous amounts of unreported industrial activity, including suspicious fishing operations. The research also reveals that three-quarters of the world’s fishing vessels are not publicly tracked. (The Verge)

Resolve to Meet (and Eat) New Seafood NOAA
The new year is a great time to try new things! In 2024, we suggest exploring overlooked sustainable seafood options. Discover a new world of flavors with seafood such as triggerfish, skate, and more. Get inspired with these delicious recipes while you learn more about sustainable seafood.

What kind of seafood is morally ethical to eat? / Los Angeles Times
A well-managed and abundant ocean could feed a billion people a healthful seafood meal every day, forever. Overfishing, especially by big industrial fleets, is destroying that abundance — collapsing a wild food resource essential to the health and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people along coastlines around the world. A four-year investigation of industrial distant-water fishing by the Outlaw Ocean Project, published this week in the Los Angeles Times, uncovered evidence of human rights abuses and violent and deadly conditions. Chinese-owned and -flagged ships are the largest distant-water fishing fleet in the world. This fleet includes an estimated 6,500 ships, and they fish in every ocean. To put this fleet in context, neither Japan nor the U.S. has more than 1,000 such ships.

Fish:

Atlantic Salmon highlighted in IUCN Red List update / IUCN Red List
An update to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species includes the first global freshwater fish assessment. Atlantic salmon are prominently mentioned; the document states that the species has moved from Least Concern to Near Threatened. The report’s authors cite climate change, habitat destruction, and salmon aquaculture as existential threats.

Lois Creek’s native cutthroat trout population supplanted by invasive brook trout / Kimberley Bulletin
After the recent discovery that an invasive species had supplanted the native cutthroat trout in Kimberley’s Lois Creek, the ecosystem has become the focus of a project from Wildsight’s Youth Climate Corp.

Northwest salmon hatcheries harm wild salmon populations, study finds / La Conner Weekly News
For much of the last century, fish hatcheries have been built in the Northwest, across the U.S. and around the world to boost fish populations where wild numbers have gone down.

Salmon skyline takes wild coho conservation to new heights in B.C. / National Observer
Each autumn, Courtenay Fish and Game volunteers go to great lengths to capture live spawning salmon from an isolated stretch of the Trent River to raise at their new Comox Lake hatchery.

WHY DO SOME MALE-LOOKING BROOK TROUT CARRY EGGS? THE ANSWERS ARE FASCINATING AND SURPRISING / Outdoor Canada
“Over the years of growing hundreds of brood-stock brookies, I’ve noticed individuals that are complete outliers,” Jeff Matity said. “It’s usually a situation where you get a male with a rounded snout, weak kype and soft colouring. A female with a pronounced kype and gaudy paint job is much more rare in my experience.

Habitat:

Christmas trees helping Vancouver Island salmon habitat after ‘worst return’ / Alberni Valley News
Streamkeepers will fasten bundles of trees in pools near where chum eggs will incubate next winter.

Arctic temperatures have broken new records. What to know / Tyee
The 2023 Arctic Report Card tracks change that is shifting cultural practices and disrupting livelihoods.

Growing pains? SFU research tracks 100 years of salmon adaptation to climate change / Simon Fraser University
Juvenile salmon in British Columbia are growing larger than they did 100 years ago due to climate change, according to a new Simon Fraser University-led study.

Modern Hurricanes Have a Surprise Ingredient / Hakai
As Hurricane Larry curved north in the Atlantic in 2021, sparing the eastern seaboard of the United States, a special instrument was waiting for it on the island of Newfoundland, in Canada. Because hurricanes feed on warm ocean water, scientists wondered whether such a storm could pick up microplastics from the sea surface and deposit them when it made landfall. Larry was literally a perfect storm: because it hadn’t touched land before reaching the island, anything it dropped would have been scavenged from the water or air, as opposed to, say, a highly populated city, where you’d expect to find lots of microplastics.

Irrigation canals threaten the Bow River’s world-class sportfishery / Outdoor Canada
Ongoing concern extends throughout Alberta’s angling community regarding a decline in populations of mature trout in the Bow River. Provincial biologists have identified several major stressors on the fish, from erratic and declining flow levels to catch-and-release angling mortality. However, biologists have also identified another major factor contributing to fish mortality: irrigation canals.

New Twists on an Ancient Fishery / Tyee
The Quw’utsun fish spear begins with a wooden shaft — a round, three-metre Douglas-fir pole. There is a nine-metre length of nylon rope attached to the top of the shaft, connecting it to the thrower’s wrist to retrieve the spear from the river after a throw. The bottom of the spear consists of two tempered-steel points, slightly flared, and tightly bound to the shaft with strong twine. The tips of the points come off when the spear hits a salmon, sinking into the flesh to help prevent escape. But they remain attached to the spear with rebar wire, more nylon rope and flexible rubber from a bicycle inner tube. “You could pull in a car with that thing,” says Harold Joe, a Quw’utsun fishermen of the Cowichan River.

Leave The Lead Out / FishingWire
Tungsten and zinc alloy lures have become popular in the past few years. Those materials replace lead and are friendlier to our environment.& Lead negatively impacts the world in several ways. That’s why gas with no lead and paint with no lead is offered and widely accepted. People in some places have learned the hard way that lead in the drinking water is a bad deal. In many ways, tungsten and zinc alloy are better for wildlife, people, and fishing.

Indigenous:

Restoring Gill Bar: A Collaborative Effort for Conservation and Cultural Preservation / Watershed Watch Salmon Society
The Xá:y Syí:ts’emílep (Gill Bar) restoration project has multiple objectives. These include the conservation and protection of key habitats and fish spawning areas, the integration of nature-based solutions for flood protection, the preservation of First Nations rights to traditional harvesting activities, and the development of a long-term co-management plan that facilitates recreational opportunities with minimal environmental impact.

Using AI to track salmon could be a ‘game-changer’ / Narwhal
Using AI means some communities are starting to collect quicker, more accurate data on salmon than the federal fisheries department. About a dozen First Nations are working with scientists to train AI models to recognize how many salmon are returning in real-time. It could revolutionize how First Nations fish and steward salmon, offering critical information for managing populations struggling from habitat loss and warming temperatures.4 days ago.

Indigenous groups in B.C. seek long-term funds to bring salmon back to the Columbia River / Globe & Mail
Nearly a century of dam construction and operation has transformed the Columbia into an electrical powerhouse, but has blocked entry to salmon.

First Nations fight to bring traditional foods back to the table / Narwhal
“Having access to abundant wild food that’s in close proximity within your traditional territory goes beyond ensuring food security, it’s about cultural integrity and self-determination,” says Mateen Hessami, a hunter, ecologist and tribal member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma, “Creating more wild food is just so important. Because we need people in those rural communities, we need jobs, we need guardians. Because if no one’s out on the land, cherishing it and utilizing it, then no one’s going to care about it.” Unfortunately, about half of Pacific salmon populations are in some state of decline, according to the Pacific Salmon Foundation. The foundation reports Fraser River sockeye declined 54 per cent in the past decade compared to all preceding years. A 2019 study found the second biggest sockeye run — Skeena River sockeye — has declined 75 per cent since 1913.

Industry:

Environmentally Friendly Clam Pro Tackle / Clam
With environmentally friendly high-grade materials like tungsten in our jigs and zinc alloy in our spoons, we are reducing the amount of lead used in our tackle lineup – and we are proud to stand apart as an eco-friendly tackle brand. Clam Pro Tackle is committed to protect all aquatic species and wildlife, increasing water quality and being stewards of the environment for future generations.

Podcasts:

E423 Abe Frances on Mohawk FN Connections to Fish and Fishing / The Blue Fish Radio Show
Abraham Francis is a member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne where he serves as the Environmental Science Officer. Abe speaks with Lawrence about the historic connection Mohawk First Nations people have with the fish of the St. Lawrence River, why his people were forced to suspend this connection for the past two generations, what’s being done to re-build this relationship, and why understanding fish health and fish contamination is crucial to reconciliation.

Video:

Jan 17 at 6:00 pm Eastern Dive In with Liz and Sylvia
Paul Greenberg, Liz and Sylvia will be discussing the deep scattering layer (DSL) of the ocean. The DSL is an area of high concentration of marine organisms that live suspended in the water column. Many of these organisms, such as fish, have swim bladders that can reflect sound. These swim bladders can reflect the sound so strongly that a “false bottom” effect can be created. When early sonar operators thought they were seeing the seafloor, they were actually seeing a thick layer of fish, squid, jellyfish, and other marine organisms. This layer is typically seen around 300-500 meters (984-1,640 feet) and can be deeper during the day and portions of the layer can get shallower at night. DSLs can be seen in ocean basins all over the world and serve important ecological roles in the open ocean. This layer of ocean wildlife is threatened by the commerical fishing industry.

Scientists and Local Champions:

Bass Fishing HOF Continues Scholarship Program / Best on Tour
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) is proud to announce the second year of its Fishery Management Scholarship Program. Recognizing the critical role of fishery management professionals in ensuring the health and vibrancy of bass fisheries across the U.S. and Canada, this program aims to provide financial support and encouragement to high school and college bass anglers pursuing careers in this vital field.Up to $15,000 will be awarded in June 2024 to selected applicants. Applications are now open and can be submitted through the BFHOF website.

Calls to Action:

Have your say on Atlantic salmon and striped bass management / DFO
Fisheries and Oceans Canada wants feedback on bag limits, size limits, catches, and other management measures for Atlantic salmon and striped bass. The survey is for people who fished in the Gulf of St. Lawrence region in 2023.

Coming Up:

• January 27th: Join Save the River at Winter Environmental Conference in Clayton NY to celebrate STR’s 35th gathering to hear about topics of critical importance to the health of the St. Lawrence River. Highlights include American Eels, Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), environmental indicators used in Plan 2014, and Save Blind Bay.
• February 12-15: 2024 Invasive Species Forum / ISC: Lawrence Gunther will be a presenter!
• February 20-22: 29th Annual Wetland Science Conference
• February 22-25: Ottawa Boat and Outdoor Show: Blue Fish Canada will be an exhibitor and presenter!
• March 5-7: Great Lakes Commission Semi-annual Meeting and Great Lakes Day 2024
• March 18-22: Great Lakes Fishery Commission 2024 Lake Committee Meetings.
• May 12-16: International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species (ICAIS) in Halifax.
• May 20-24: IAGLR’s 67th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research

Special Guest Feature: 5 Apps Every Fishing Enthusiast Should Have Installed

Fishbrain: The best fishing practices have often spread through word of mouth: good rods and lines to use, the best times of day to fish, spots to visit, and so on. Of course, not everyone has time to head over to the local marina and bother sailors with questions. Instead of that, why not join a massive online community of anglers to source the best information for your fishing trip?

FishAngler: Much like any hunting pursuit, information reigns supreme in the fishing world. Every last scrap of data, from the weather to the habits of the fish you’re pursuing, moves you ever so slightly closer to that coveted haul. The hard part is actually getting that information, but if you’re using the FishAngler app, that tricky task becomes a whole lot easier.

Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time: You know how the tides of a body of water are affected by the relative position of the moon? Well, that’s not the only impact the moon has on water. According to the Solunar Theory, animal behavior is also influenced by the moon’s phases and position in the sky. Ergo, by carefully following the moon, you may be able to maximize your fishing yield by venturing out on days when the fish are more active. It sounds a little hokey, but it’s a widely used practice. If you’d like to try it, the Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time app will help.

Fishing Knots app: Perhaps one of the most minute elements of the fishing experience is tying knots. The best tackle knots require particularly precise hand and finger movements, and even if you’re especially dexterous, it’s still a pain trying to remember which lines and loops go where and in what order. Practice makes perfect, of course, but if you need a little help along your path to becoming a knot master, try the Fishing Knots app.

FishTrack: Fishing in a pond or lake is one thing, but if you’re out fishing in the ocean, safety becomes a much more pressing concern. The last thing you want is to go out for a leisurely fishing day, only to end up getting rocked by a sudden shift in the tides or being hit with nasty weather. If you’re looking to stay safe while out on the salt, try the FishTrack app.

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What’s New at Blue Fish Canada: Blue Fish Canada underwent its most productive year yet! Covid may have forced a shift in how we deliver programs, and the need to take our foot off the accelerator while the world responded to the pandemic, but the last year offers proof positive that our programs are more in demand than ever, and we are back to in-person program delivery. Want to know more, read our year-end summary below, along with all the rest of the fish, habitat and fishing news. And most of all, thank you all for your support and assistance. Stay tuned for lots more to come!

This Week’s Feature – Blue Fish Canada in 2023

Prepared by President Lawrence Gunther

Introduction: Without doubt 2023 has been a tremendous growth year for Blue Fish Canada’s programs, new and old. This report details the extent of the growth and results generated over the past calendar year – 2023.

“The Blue Fish Radio Show”: In 2023, 44 episodes of the podcast were produced and released. In addition to interviews with local champions and others working hard to build and strengthen fish health, water quality, and the future of fish and fishing, podcasts include live recordings from Canadian Fishing Network, live Facebook streams featuring Blue Fish Canada President Lawrence Gunther in conversation with CFN host Scotty Martin about the latest fish and fishing news. Of special note, on September 8, 2023, the podcast tracking service Feedspot released its review of the top 35 fishing podcasts around the world, and ranked The Blue Fish Radio Show as number two! Podcasts continue to be featured in Outdoor Canada Magazine’s website and social media.

“Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther”: The Accessible Media Inc. show and podcast “Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther” began its 4th season in September 2023. A total of 92 episodes have been released to date. The podcast features Lawrence and co-host young Lilly Melrose along with special guests discussing outdoor access and conservation. The target audience includes youth and others living with disabilities, their family and friends, and others who have an interest in outdoor life or who live in rural, remote or northern communities. The show airs each Saturday and Sunday over basic cable TV across Canada on AMI Audio, and is available as a podcast.

“Get Ready for Fishing”: In 2023 Blue Fish Canada rebranded its youth and family sustainable fishing program as “Get Ready for Fishing”. The program experienced tremendous success with over 500 youth and family members directly benefiting. Beneficiaries included First nations youth from the Mohawks of Akwesasne community, new Canadians throughout eastern Ontario, and 96 youth who took part in our partner initiative, “Ottawa Fish School”. The program goes beyond teaching youth and their families to fish sustainably, and includes modules such as invasive species identification, removal and prevention, water quality observation and testing, fish handling and release best practices, selecting species-appropriate and environmentally friendly tackle, fish health and habitat resilience, and sustainable harvesting and fish welfare. The program is made possible with assistance from key partners who provide venues and assist with marketing and logistics.

“The Blue Fish News”: A total of 26 issues of the Blue Fish Canada Newsletter were circulated to over 5,000 subscribers in 2023. On average, 31% of subscribers open the News within 24 hours. Each Newsletter includes an editorial, links to fishing, fish, habitat, indigenous, industry, boating, and other news articles, videos, webinars, books, podcasts, details about related up-coming events, and a featured guest blog – no ads. A google search for “fish conservation” places the Blue Fish News in the top-ten results.

“Blue Fish Exploration Centre”: After commencing a search for a remote location to establish a research station and youth exploration centre in early 2022, an off-grid property located 2.5 hours north of Ottawa was eventually chosen. The 3.5 hector (7 acres) Red Pine Forest stretches along 412 meters (1,350 feet) of pristine shoreline. The lake is home to Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Perch, and both Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. Renovations are underway to the 162 square meter (1,750 sqft) cabin, and the installation of smaller “bunkies”. The cabin, bunkies, paths, docks and beach access will be fully accessible to researchers, youth and others of all abilities. The cabin will house between six and eight researchers, and the bunkies and canvas wall tents will provide sleeping accommodation for another 20 to 25 youth and their families.

The Blue Fish Exploration Centre will allow youth to learn directly from scientists, local experts, and First Nation knowledge keepers as they engage in structured activities designed to create and strengthen their connection to nature. Their un-plugged experience will include the cool air under the mature forest canopy, the dark night skies, the property’s level forest floor, access to a massive sandy swimming area, and its overall peace and tranquility. The lake is one of the largest in the area, and a network of trails lead to many other nearby water bodies and rivers home to wild fishes of all species.

Collaborations: Blue Fish Canada continues to leverage partnerships to extend program reach. Partner organizations are committed to fish health and conservation, the protection of fish habitat and water quality, and the belief that fishing is a terrific way for youth and others to establish life-long connections with nature. New and renewing partners in 2023 include Water Rangers, Cabela’s, the CNIB, Shimano, Ontario Power Generation, the Great Lakes Network, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Earth Rangers, Canadian Fishing Network, Maitland Tower, Watersheds Canada, B.C. Public Fishing Alliance, St. Lawrence River Institute for Environmental Studies, Ottawa Fish School, Save the River, Invasive Species Centre, and many more.

“Blue Fish Certified”: As fishing outfitters and resorts continue to recover from COVID-19 economic setbacks, Blue Fish Canada has been busy working with tourism industry leaders to design a Blue Fish Certification program that instructs, tests and certifies fishing guides and fishing resort management staff. Training focusses on water quality, fish health, invasive species prevention, fish handling best practices, fish habitat protection, and sustainable harvesting and fish welfare. Participation and completion of the certification program allows guides, outfitters and resorts to display the Blue Fish Logo, and provides their guests and customers access to pre-visit content explaining what to expect.

“Great Lakes Fish Health Network”: Since founding the Great Lakes Fish Health Network in 2017, Blue Fish Canada President Lawrence Gunther continues to serve as its Chair. In 2023 the Network has directed and overseen a legal review of fish consumption advisories, authored a chapter in a new book on small-scale fisheries, and written an article for a scientific journal on jurisdictional and methodological issues with current fish consumption advisories. Presentations on Network findings and analysis are presented at science symposiums, to Great Lakes Commissions, the Great Lakes Network, and others.

Outreach: In addition to our podcasts, newsletter, YouTube channel, and our other social media channels, we continue to exhibit and provide seminars at outdoor shows, conferences, and schools. President Lawrence Gunther also writes editorials for each newsletter on topics specific to fish and fishing, and is the bi-weekly environmental contributor on the Now with Dave Brown TV show aired over basic cable across Canada and as a podcast. Of special note is President Lawrence Gunther’s involvement in the Water Rangers “Water Ripple” series, an observer at bi-annual meetings of the Great Lakes Commission, a member of the Upper St. Lawrence River Strategy Steering Committee, a participant at the annual lake Committee meeting of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and a “Change Maker” for the River Institute’s “River Rapport”.

Grants and Donations: Grants and donations have been ramped up considerably in 2023 as Blue Fish Canada returns to in-person program delivery. Benefactors include Cabela’s, United Way, Ottawa Community Foundation, Maitland Tower, Service Canada, the CNIB, and numerous other public and corporate donors who believe strongly in our mission and ability to deliver. Comprehensive annual financial reports are submitted at the end of each fiscal year (March 31) to the Canada Revenue Agency, where Blue Fish Canada is registered as a charity, and to Industry Canada where the charity is incorporated as a national not-for-profit. Starting in 2004 reports will also be submitted annually to the Government of Quebec where Blue Fish Canada is now registered as a non-profit called “Poisson Bleu Canada”.

Plans for 2024: Registration to host Get Ready for Fishing events have commenced, and plans are underway to participate in outdoor shows as exhibitors and presenters. Work with engineers, architects and landscape designers for the renovation of the Blue Fish Exploration Centre, with a planned opening for July 2024. Another round of focus group testing for our Blue Fish Certification program will soon be underway, with new certified guides, outfitters and resorts coming on stream in 2024. More grants are being secured, summer students hired, and volunteers trained to support our mission and increasingly popular programs. Blue Fish Canada programs operate year-round.

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

She and I, on the fly / Hatch Magazine
The YMCA of the Rockies is helping to increase angler access to affordable guided trips and female guides. The YMCA of the Rockies is a long-time institution in Estes Park that has served as a base camp for families visiting Rocky Mountain National Park since the early 1900s. The sprawling 860-acre property borders the national park, and today is the largest YMCA camp and conference center in the world — drawing more than 220,000 people to their location every year.

Tonnes of elvers were poached in 2023, but border agents didn’t find any / CBC
The Canada Border Services Agency says it looked, but did not find evidence of black-market shipments of baby eels or elvers out of Canada this year, despite widespread poaching in Maritime rivers.

Fish:

The high levels of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in our fish could be harming us / INews
A chemical that takes thousands of years to break down is found in England’s freshwater fish at 1,000 times above safe levels – and could end up on our dinner tables. The most commonly cited concern about forever chemicals is that they can weaken the immune system.

Reasons to Be Skeptical about Sentience and Pain in Fishes and Aquatic Invertebrate / ResearchGate
“Just because some folks keep saying that fish feel pain does not make it so” Dr. Steven Cooke “a paper that embraces an organized skepticism perspective.”

Seabirds Can Help Predict the Size of Fish Stocks—If Only We’d Listen / Hakai
The scientists who study terns, puffins, and other fish-eating birds are trying to get fisheries managers to heed their warnings.

Salmon farming companies settle class-action lawsuit alleging global price-fixing scheme / CBC
Seven companies accused of conspiring to manipulate the global price of salmon have agreed to pay a total of more than $5 million Cdn to settle a class-action lawsuit.

Huge spike in herring killed in B.C. salmon farm operations: DFO data / CBC
The Watershed Watch Salmon Society is sounding the alarm on data collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) that show an unprecedented spike in wild fish killed in B.C. salmon farm operations. According to DFO, 817,000 wild fish — nearly all of them herring — were reported killed in open-net pen salmon farm operations in 2022. That’s an almost five-fold increase from the previous year and a 21-fold increase from 2020. The DFO documents describe how salmon farm operators are responsible for the killing during a mechanical sea lice removal treatment of penned salmon known as hydrolicing.

Canada’s Limits on Sea Lice in Salmon Farms Don’t Measure Up / Hakai
Research comparing salmon farming regulations in four countries finds that Canada’s rules fall short when it comes to protecting wild fish populations from one of the key threats posed by aquaculture: sea lice infestations. In Canada, where scientists within and outside the federal government have clashed over the risk posed by sea lice, farm operators must assess their fish every two weeks during the spring wild salmon migration. If more than three lice per fish are at the motile life stage—growing quickly, moving about the salmon, and generally posing a greater threat—operators have 42 days to bring levels down. But, by then, some wild salmon species may have already migrated past the farm.

“As if 150 years of failure isn’t enough for lessons to be learned, enhancement persists as a key component of salmon management in BC”. Osprey Journal
SkeenaWild’s Director of Science, Dr. Michael Price, and Fisheries Biologist Kaitlin Yehle featured in The Osprey, the International Journal of Salmon and Steelhead Conservation, Fall 2023 issue. Together, they wrote an article, ‘The Follies of Salmon Enhancement, Lessons from British Columbia’s Past.’ The pair discuss the crossroads BC salmon face after a century and a half of intensive commercial exploitation and habitat erosion that has left many populations diminished and vulnerable to existential forces like climate change. The article centres on the government’s heavy focus on artificial enhancement to rebuild these wild salmon populations, hoping to increase abundance and strengthen future resilience. Dr. Price and Kaitlin discuss the various challenges associated with methods of artificial enhancement, highlighting that relatively few have shown much success.

North Atlantic Right Whales Have Better Food in the Gulf of St. Lawrence / NOAA
Chopepods are planktonic crustaceans that occur in large numbers across the North Atlantic Ocean and are the North Atlantic right whales’ primary prey. New research shows that copepods are more nutritious in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, providing a higher quality diet for right whales compared to those in the Gulf of Maine and off Nova Scotia, even though abundance may be less dense.

Habitat:

COP28 climate summit signals the end of fossil fuels / Nature.Com
Nearly 200 countries at the COP28 climate change summit agreed to transition global energy systems “away from fossil fuels.” While the pledge falls short of “phasing out” oil, gas, and coal—despite pleas from more than 100 nations to use that wording—many experts say the explicit focus on fossil fuels is still an important milestone.

Quarter of world’s freshwater fish species at risk of extinction, researchers warn / CBS
Freshwater species are at risk from climate change, pollution and overfishing, the International Union for Conservation of Nature said Monday.

World’s biggest gathering of bald eagles feast in B.C.’s Fraser Valley / Vernon Morning Star
Thousands of eagles descend on Harrison River to eat salmon on their migration route.

Salmon escaping farms are wreaking havoc on wild fish / Newsweek
Atlantic salmon have recently been reclassified as “threatened” due to a worldwide population drop. The trend of farmed salmon escaping captivity and intermingling with wild Atlantic salmon is producing offspring that are less able to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Save the endangered Pacific wild salmon stocks from fish farms / Ecojustice
Ecojustice lawyers — representing the David Suzuki Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, Living Oceans Society, Watershed Watch Salmon Society and independent biologist Alexandra Morton — are back in court to support the federal government’s refusal to renew licenses for open-net pen fish farms near the Discovery Islands.

Alaska salmon woes, extreme precipitation, tundra shrub growth part of Arctic transformation / Alaska Beacon
NOAA’s 2023 Arctic Report Card highlights challenges posed by rapid climate change in Alaska and elsewhere in the far North.

ROAD SALT: NOT JUST A WINTER ISSUE / ORK
Dire new results from Ottawa Riverkeeper’s monitoring program show that urban waterways are impacted by road salt all year round. For the first time in 2023, volunteer community scientists took samples during the summer, and the results were disheartening.

Deep in the Wilderness, the World’s Largest Beaver Dam Endures / Yale E360
In 2007, Jean Thie, a Dutch-born landscape ecologist who lives near Ottawa, was looking at the latest satellite imagery of places he had examined via satellite in 1973 and 1974, when he was studying permafrost. It was then that he first spotted the dam which is about a half-mile long and in the shape of an arc made of connected arcs, like a recurve bow. The idea of going to the world’s largest beaver dam came to Rob Mark after reading about Thie’s discovery, a challenge as it meant wading through ten miles of swamp and back again after being dropped off by boat that first had to cross a 25-mile lake.

Invasives:

Aquatic invasive species in Western NL: vase tunicate are a filter feeding animal and a competitor for other native filter feeders including mussels and other commercial bivalves.

Invasive aquatic plant discovered in Lake Saint-François Quebec: a type of freshwater macroalgae called Nitellopsis obtusa, or more commonly, starry stonewort. Native to Europe and Asia, it can reach lengths of over 1.5 metres, is bright translucent green, and has irregular branches that grow in whorls from the main stem.

Invasive mussel monitoring ongoing in Christina Lake in BC: The lake is a tourism hotspot, and should Zebra or Quagga muscles be detected, it could serve as an early warning for other water bodies in the region.

Zebra mussels found in Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba: Last year environmental DNA was detected, this year they discovered Zebra muscles.

Indigenous:

Coastal First Nations get $60M boost from B.C. to protect Great Bear Sea / National Observer
The funding helps 15 coastal First Nations conserve B.C.’s ‘Galapagos of the North’ and move forward with a network of marine conservation areas that spans two-thirds of Canada’s West Coast. The Indigenous-led funding allows coastal First Nations to push forward with a vast marine conservation network in their traditional territories to protect marine ecosystems, create new jobs and economic opportunities, and foster sustainable fisheries and tourism, the premier of B.C. said.

‘Salmon parks’ in traditional First Nations territory aim to save habitats by stopping old-growth logging / The Globe and Mail
A new plan from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, aided by the B.C. and federal governments, signals a shift in Indigenous-led conservation across the province. To meet commitments by the federal and provincial governments, B.C. will need to set aside more than 10 million hectares of new biologically important areas for protection from development over the next six years. Much of that will be achieved through Indigenous-led conservation projects that are now on a fast track for approval. This includes the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation plan, which will require additional funding to complete.

Industry:

Gone fishing… for some fish data / Statistics Canada
Canadian households were asked if they participated in outdoor activities close to home during the second year of the pandemic, and just under 1 in 10 (9%) Canadian households reported they went fishing close to home in 2021.

A total of 853 fishing and hunting camps with employees were counted in the second half of 2022. Over half of the camps were located in Quebec (253) and Ontario (229). British Columbia (125) ranked third. Just over half (52%) of fishing and hunting camps employ from one to four people, and the three largest camps each employed from 100 to 200 people.

Boating:

Ottawa Boat and Outdoor show February 22-25
Visit the Blue Fish Canada booth at the Ottawa Boat and Outdoor Show and experience our “Get Ready for Fishing” program!

Arts:

Guy Harvey Foundation Renews Support for the Art of Conservation® Fish Art Contest / Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Forever is proud to announce the continuation of their partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation for the 2024 The Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest.

Podcasts:

Episode 92: Marine Mammal Communications and Photographing Environmental Conflicts / Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther
On this episode of Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther, Lilly shares a story about dolphins rescuing a mother and baby whale from sharks, and we learn about marine mammal communications. National Geographic photographer Brent Stirton shares stories about his 25 years of photographing and reporting on environmental conflict, and Lawrence has a few tips on taking pictures without the use of sight. Lawrence also reflects on getting outdoors to open up you’re hearing.

Videos:

B.C.’s ancient ‘river dinosaurs’ face uncertain future as population dwindles / Weather Network
Sturgeon fishing is more than just a sport, its cultural significance is deep in the province of B.C. The Weather Network’s Mia Gordon takes a look at the important history of sturgeon and the dangers facing them in the future.

Webinars:

Building Resilient Shorelands / Watersheds Canada
Discover the science behind vegetated buffers, strategies for achieving environmental net gain at the waterfront, shoreline planting restoration templates, and other resources promoting sustainable development along waterfront lands. Watersheds Canada has a free policy toolkit.

Unique pathways of invasive mussel spread / GLFC
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s Invasive Mussel Collaborative recently hosted a webinar on unique pathways of invasive mussel spread. Presenters included James Dickey with Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries; Courtney Larson with the U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division; and Daniel Sandborn with the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Coming Up:

January 27th: Join Save the River at Winter Environmental Conference in Clayton NY to celebrate STR’s 35th gathering to hear about topics of critical importance to the health of the St. Lawrence River. Highlights include American Eels, Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), environmental indicators used in Plan 2014, and Save Blind Bay.
February 12-15: 2024 Invasive Species Forum / ISC
February 20-22: 29th Annual Wetland Science Conference
March 5-7: Great Lakes Commission Semi-annual Meeting and Great Lakes Day 2024
March 18-22: Great Lakes Fishery Commission 2024 Lake Committee Meetings.
May 12-16: International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species (ICAIS) in Halifax.
May 20-24: IAGLR’s 67th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research

Special Guest Feature – Ice Fishing Season is on the Horizon

Invasive Species Centre

As the weather gets colder, many of the staff at the ISC office are keeping an eye on the lakes waiting for the ice to become safe for ice fishing. If, like us, you are impatiently waiting to get back out on hard water, it might be a good time to freshen up on some of the bait regulations, including Bait Management Zones and how to properly handle and dispose of your bait.

A reminder: in Ontario, it is illegal to dump the contents of a bait bucket or bait, live or dead, either directly into the water or within 30 metres of it. Unknowingly having juvenile invasive species in your bait bucket and mishandling that bait is one of the most common pathways for invasive aquatic species to spread, especially into isolated lake systems. This preventative practice is something all ice anglers across Canada should adopt where-ever the use of live minnows for bait is legal.

Blue Fish Canada relies on top Canadian fish biologists and expert anglers to fact-check all our Blue Fish Sustainable Fishing Tips. Check out our tips on how to ice fish sustainably.

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What’s New at Blue Fish Canada: Attending the Ultimate Ice Fishing Show, equipping the Blue Fish Exploration Centre with a six-passenger side-by-side, preparing status reports for granting organizations, meeting fundraising goals, learning about threats to monster freshwater fish around the world from Nat-Geo TV personality Zeb Hogan, finding out what it takes to photograph man / environment conflicts for Nat-Geo by photographer Brent Sturton, collaborating on developing outdoor access best practices, taking on news agencies that aren’t practicing what they preach about inclusivity, debating animal sentience and if fish feel pain, reporting on EV vehicle up-take for AMI TV, and preparing for the up-coming outdoor show season – just another week at the Blue Fish Canada office. But most importantly, thank you to all who responded to our “Giving Tuesday” fundraiser with your donations, and just as importantly, your words of encouragement and thanks, it’s great to know we have so many loyal conservation-minded anglers out there who believe in what we do.

This Week’s Feature – Conservation Takes a Community

By Lawrence Gunther

Over the past four years I’ve been issuing calls to action directed toward youth and others with all abilities, from all backgrounds, and of all identities. These calls are meant to inspire youth and others by showcasing my own experience as a conservation-minded angler living with vision loss. It’s my opinion that the largely silent world requires people gifted at storytelling to give voice to what most others aren’t able to see. It’s particularly annoying therefore, when I read comments like the following being shared by a leading independent news source, “We’re stumbling blindly through a dangerous present towards an even grimmer future.” Normally, I simply choose to ignore people when they share metaphors that portray people who are blind as ignorant, but since December 3rd is the International Day on Disability, I thought maybe I should take a moment and try to explain why comments like this can be alienating.

Before you start in on me for being overly sensitive, politically correct, or whatever you want to call people who challenge social norms, let me first justify my standby describing the myriad social experiments and changes I’ve experienced over the years. Keep in mind, my own personal path from sighted to blind allows me to see both sides of the picture, and let’s just say what I lost along the way was more than just sight. It wasn’t easy and still isn’t, to have my status within society diminished simply because I now use other senses than sight to make sense of the world around me.

As a child registered blind at age eight, I came close to being sent to a residential school for the blind. The transfer was stopped thanks to the intervention of the principal of my public school. He told me, “As long as you can get along you can stay.” It’s a reframe I have since heard, in good ways and bad, for many years since.

Throughout my teenage years, like most who grew up in a small town, I worked summer jobs as a farm hand during haying season, on construction sites as a labourer, landscaping, and other jobs like delivering newspapers and shoveling snow. I was even hired along with my brother at the AMC car factory in nearby Brampton Ontario subbing for fulltime employees taking summer vacations, but only after the HR official doing the hiring finally agreed to give me a chance with the proviso that floor supervisors would not be informed about my visual disability, leaving it to me to “get along.” He seemed to think it important that I receive no special consideration, something the floor supervisors found ridiculous as I was quickly swopped out of my first assembly line job involving detailing body work prior to cars being painted, with the job my brother was initially assigned, reaching underneath car bodies and feeling for holes that needed plugging with putty. Turns out there were plenty of other assembly jobs that I could do perfectly fine, and the money was great.

It was a reality check when I received two phone calls around the time I was finishing up high school. The first was from the president of the blind piano tuner’s union offering me an apprenticeship. Up until then I never identified as being blind, so that was a definite pass. The second call was from social services with an offer to receive life-long disability payments. My initial reaction was outrage that someone who didn’t even know me considered me as unemployable. It was only later that I understood the cold hard truth that the offer reflected a broader held opinion that people registered as legally blind like me were not capable of working. Clearly, the odds of my achieving success were stacked against me.

What followed were two years of college, four years in undergraduate school, and another three years earning my masters.

Despite graduating with three different post-secondary diplomas and degrees, each time I was told by potential employers that I was unemployable due to my being blind, even though, technically, I qualified for their jobs. I knew in my heart that they were wrong, and that if I had been given the chance I would have got along just fine.

Without doubt, my academic experience included my fair share of challenges. It included all manner of systemic barriers such as a lack of access to textbooks, the inability to access information being shared at the front of the class, professors who took exception to my handing in essays on cassette tape, and tests that I couldn’t read. This was before talking computers or other accommodation programs such as note takers and reader assistants. It was ironic that while I wrestled with academic institutions unwilling to provide any form of assistance to students with disabilities, these same institutions were embracing affirmative action and employment equity.

To escape the frustrations I was experiencing in classrooms, I spent much of my final two years of study pursuing independent field research throughout much of Canada’s Arctic, culminating in a year as a guest lecturer and researcher at Umeå University in northern Sweden. Equipped with a tape recorder, I met with all manner of people to record their local and traditional knowledge, including government officials, elected politicians, captains of industry, indigenous knowledgekeepers, NGO leaders, and people representative of different groups within society.

It was in my last year in university that I gained access to one of the first-ever talking computers for the blind, and a state-of-the-art electronic book scanning and reading machine invented for the blind by Raymond Kurzwiel. Despite being dropped into the world of literacy overnight, I quickly became a prolific writer.

Throughout my 20’s, my vision continued to deteriorate. In 1986 I reached the point where I had to get either a white cane or guide dog – of course, I chose the dog. As one of the first ten people in Ontario to receive a guide dog, it was overwhelmingly challenging to take the dog anywhere without being told, “dogs aren’t allowed”, but at the same time, extremely liberating in terms of my mobility. He was a black labrador who loved to hunt way more than guiding, but we managed to get along just fine for just over ten years.

Getting a guide dog allowed me to keep my part-time job in the city at a group home for ten men with mental health and developmental challenges, to continue to attend university, and to eventually undertake my field research. The only disadvantage of having adopted such an obvious mobility and orientation aid for the blind was that people now perceived me as “blind” in the worst sense of the word. Being restored with the ability to once again, independently move about and explore the outdoors certainly softened the blow of my status within society being even further downgraded.

Finding work in the summer was still a challenge. I eventually purchased a small cabin in Cape Breton where I was able to find summer employment as a commercial cod fisher. I was right at home stepping on to home-made wooden dories powered with old car engines, and spending 12 hours a day bobbing around on the Atlantic Ocean jigging for cod while my guide dog combed the forest around my cabin for rabbits and other prey. Funny as it may sound, my two shipmates decided it was safer for me to drive the boat back at the end-of-day instead of handling the sharp knives used for preparing our days catch for sale back at the dock. I could just see enough to head west towards land using the sun as my compass. Not only was I able to get along just fine aboard the boat, I received 10% from the sale of each days catch. Those were great days for sure, until somehow we fishers managed to catch them all, leading to the cod fishery being closed in 1992.

The transition from academia to running my own consulting business, and then working for the House of Commons as a research officer, were challenging days but rewarding times despite the recession in the early 1990’s.

I eventually landed a job in the Foreign service made possible through a management trainee program. After working at Global Affairs for a year I was offered the job full time. But first, they had to cancel their HR policy that all foreign service officers had to pass a fitness test deeming them fit to “stand at arms” should one of our embassies come under fire. The HR department even encouraged me to hire my wife as my reader assistant through their “spousal employment program” and assured me that my assignments over-seas would include only the safest foreign countries like France, the U.K., or Japan, posts that foreign service officers spend most of their careers trying to secure. To be frank, while the elimination of the systemic “stand at arms” barrier seemed appropriate, the accommodations being offered were over-the-top, and eventually led to my leaving.

Skip ahead 20 years and along came COVID-19. People like me who often depend on the elbow of a sighted guide all of a sudden became highly suspect as potential transmitters of the virus. And then there were those who wanted to lower their stress by petting my dog. These were challenging times, especially since my usual friends and volunteers were no longer available to drive with me in my truck to get out of the city.

All this new time on my hands led to the launch of a new podcast in September 2020 called “Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther”. Together with my youngest daughter Lilly who was 14 at the time, and my 12-year-old son Theo who continues to serve as our technical producer, we began creating content meant to inspire other blind and low vision youth and others to connect with nature in fun, meaningful, and sustainable ways.

Turns out I’m not the only person with a disability who has experienced alienation. It’s lead to the launch of the “Outdoorist Oath” movement. In fact, the issue of exclusion is of sufficient scope that conservation and other environmental groups are now adopting the policy of “diversity, equity and inclusion.

Over the years I’ve produced numerous documentaries, short videos, podcasts, blogs, articles, and plenty of TV content. My advocacy work has earned me the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal, the Public Service Award of Excellence, and numerous other awards and recognitions. By no means am I the first blind person to specialize in knowledge keeping and storytelling. I’m privileged to have met a number of elder blind Inuit and First Nations people who have dedicated their lives to continuing this ancient tradition.

More than ever our planet needs to be heard. It needs people to speak up on its behalf. By sharing traditional, local and scientific knowledge through storytelling, people are able to link the past with the present.

Clearly, we need new approaches to mitigating our impacts on nature and rebuilding its resilience. New perspectives, new approaches, new ways of seeing the world are needed to find our way back to living sustainably. It’s going to take all of our unique perspectives and skills to make these changes, and can only be accomplished if we work together.

The Latest Fishing, Fish Health and Fish Habitat News

Fishing:

Crappie Barotrauma Study / AnglingBuzz
The AnglingBuzz crew partners with the Minnesota DNR to study the effects of Barotrauma on crappies caught in deep water.

Lake Superior Fish Consumption Advisories / LRCA
Consult information posted by the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority regarding contaminant levels in fish due to Chemicals of Mutual Concern to help consumers make informed decisions to minimize exposure to toxins.

Advocates call for moratorium on herring fishing over concerns of stock collapse / West Coast Now
They say not enough is being done to protect herring in the Strait of Georgia, though others disagree.

All the Fish We Cannot See / Hakai
In a dark, unexplored layer of ocean, a hidden cache of fish might play an unexpected role in our climate’s future. It seems like a bad time for a new fishery.

Fishing Industry In ‘Fight Of Our Lives’ Over Offshore Wind / National Fisherman
The drive to develop U.S. offshore wind industry is growing along the West Coast, and fishermen should pay close attention to the political and legal battles already ongoing in the Atlantic states, a panel of experienced activists said at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle. Wind power developers “still believe mitigation will not be necessary” to compensate fishermen for the loss of fishing grounds when turbine arrays are built.

During COVID-19 Lockdowns, Fish Hit the Park / Hakai
In the absence of tourists, fish populations flourished within Mexico’s Cabo Pulmo National Park.

Fish:

Special teams help salmon on drought-affected rivers / Victoria Times Colonist
When a massive die-off involving upwards of 1,000 spawning pink salmon occurred after the adult fish massed at a spot on the river and used up all the available oxygen, salmon SWAT teams mobilized and experimented with aerating the water.

Swimmer witnesses surprise fight between octopus and sea lion / CBC 
It was flippers against tentacles in an ocean matchup near Nanaimo, B.C.

Salmon in the Arctic: Bad omen or evolutionary success story? / Yukon News
Experts express concern that salmon moving into the Arctic could harm native fish species.

Public Meeting About Barrier to Prevent Grass Carp from Migrating to Lake Erie / Freshwater Future
Preventing grass carp in the Sandusky River from moving into Lake Erie was the topic of a meeting last week that discussed a feasibility study to assess different types of barriers. The $953,500 project aims to impede grass carp movement from Lake Erie to potential spawning habitats in rivers. These invasive species threaten native habitats and fishery resources, particularly aquatic vegetation crucial for waterfowl and native fish habitat. Learn more about the Lake Erie Grass Carp response strategy.

FISH-TRACKING NETWORK GROWS STRONG UNDER LEADERSHIP OF MSU FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE PROFESSOR / FishingWire
Chris Vandergoot is the director of the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System (GLATOS), which brings together researchers and fishery managers alike who use sound to monitor fish.

Habitat:

Farren Lake residents lead second fish habitat project in twelve months / Watersheds Canada
In early August 2023, members of the Farren Lake Property Owners Association (FLPOA) gathered for the second time to create and deploy brush bundles on their lake. Now with both the eastern and western portions of the lake rehabilitated with underwater sticks and branches, residents of the lake can rest assured that their aquatic and amphibious neighbours will have the homes they need to survive and thrive far into the future.

Arctic Pearl Ice and Cold Storage Ltd. fined $755,000 for federal offences related to transporting and discharging ammonia into fish-bearing water in British Columbia / Canada.ca
On November 2017, Arctic Pearl Ice and Cold Storage Ltd. was quoted $19,000 plus taxes and freight by a refrigeration contractor to dispose of contaminated ammonia. Arctic Pearl Ice and Cold Storage Ltd. declined the offer of service. On the morning of November 24, 2017, a garbage disposal company employee arrived at the warehouse to collect garbage and became ill from the strong smell of ammonia. His call for help led local authorities to the storage tank’s location—it was in the back of the truck and was releasing ammonia into a fish tote of water. The contaminated water was overflowing into a storm drain, which flows into Bath Slough and discharges into the fish-bearing Fraser River.

Scientists ‘refrigerated’ a Nova Scotia salmon stream / Hatch Magazine
Scientists artificially refrigerated a salmon stream in Nova Scotia during last summer’s record heat wave. Hundreds of migratory and river-dwelling fish basked in the cold-water flows pumped into the river from a nearby groundwater well. The addition of cold water to the Wrights River was part of a Dalhousie University study conducted to determine if adding colder water to streams that become dangerously warm for trout and salmon during prolonged heat waves can help keep the fragile fish alive. Results, biologists say, were encouraging.

Glencore’s record questioned amid Teck coal mine takeover / Narwhal
Teck’s plan to sell its Elk Valley coal mines to Swiss mining giant Glencore has raised alarm bells on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border amid negotiations over an international inquiry into extensive water contamination from the mines. If the sale goes through, the company will inherit a contamination problem decades in the making.

B.C. coastal issues poll finds strong consensus on future of coastal economy / Research Co.
A new poll found that 79 per cent of British Columbians support the creation of more marine protected areas and 92 per cent are concerned about declining fish stocks.

Great Lakes Habitat Restoration: Partnering to Promote Fish Production / GLFC
Degradation of coastal, nearshore, and riverine habitats has adversely affected fish communities and fisheries in the Great Lakes for more than a century. Now a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (Commission) is advancing restoration goals for important habitat for Great Lakes fish. Working with NOAA Fisheries through a Regional Habitat Partnership funded at $4.8 million by NOAA, the Commission, along with local partners, is leading implementation of high priority projects as identified by Lake Committees across the Great Lakes basin.

Wildlife Forever To Build National Mapping Tool For Improved Access To Invasive Species Decontamination Locations / FishingWire
Wildlife Forever and a coalition of fishing industry stakeholders and federal partners will be designing a new online platform to identify watercraft inspection and decontamination stations across the country. In addition, the new website will feature state-specific aquatic invasive species information for boaters traveling across multiple states. This national resource aims to centralize information for traveling boaters and supports AIS objectives of the newly introduced MAPWaters Act. “Bring together key allies in the fishing industry and our state and federal partners to create a go-to resource that helps boaters and anglers understand where, when, and how to clean and decontaminate boats will greatly help protect our nation’s waters,” said Pat Conzemius, President & CEO, Wildlife Forever.

Let coastlines be coastlines: How nature-based approaches can protect Canada’s coasts / Yahoo!
It’s time to look beyond the status quo and consider nature-based solutions to protect the places we love.

The $500,000 fight to protect a Muskoka wetland / Narwhal
If you’ve spent time in the rocky stretches of the Canadian Shield — where water often pools in stony hollows and wetlands can seem a dime a dozen — it can be hard to believe that the soggy landscapes left are just a fraction of what was here 150 years ago, before European settlers began filling them in. In southern Ontario in particular, about three-quarters of the wetlands that once existed are gone. Very few of Ontario’s quickly vanishing marshes and swamps are safe from development. A group of citizens managed to preserve one, but they also found deep flaws in the system.

Indigenous:

New ‘mountaintop to seafloor’ Indigenous protected area in B.C. / Narwhal
The Ḵwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis First Nation’s Chief Rick Johnson says the move to take over stewardship of the region — once teeming with salmon and abundant old growth — is to ‘reclaim what is already ours’.

Boating:

ePropulsion Launches x Series Electric Outboard Motor Line-Up / FishingWire
ePropulsion announced the latest expansion to its product portfolio with the launch of its X Series outboard engines. Three innovative electric outboard motors, the X12, X20 and X40. Weighing up to 36% less than traditional motors, the ingenious X Series features a compact, fully integrated design. All motors within this series unify electric steering, power trim/tilt, the electric control unit (ECU) and the controller within a single assembly, simplifying installation and optimizing onboard pace. Cutting-edge driving assistance features like ‘Position Hold’ and ‘Heading Hold’ and ‘360 Motions’ offer additional safety-focused options.

Arts:

Armstrong artist reels in salmon foundation contest top prize / Golden Star
Dale Cooper’s painting of Chinook salmon chasing after herring will be featured on stamp.

Books:

“Chasing Giants, In Search of the World’s Largest Freshwater Fish” by Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren
The book offers a thrilling and enlightening dive into the over-30 one-hour TV specials filmed for Nat-Geo TV for the series “Monster Fish”.

Podcasts:

E421 Chasing Giant Freshwater Fish and Zeb Hogan / BFR
National Geographics Monster Fish TV hosts Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren have just released their new book, Chasing Giants, In Search of the World’s Largest Freshwater Fish. Hogan is a research biologist at the University of Nevada, an advisor to the UN Convention of Migratory Species, and our guest on The Blue Fish Radio Show. Zeb’s adventures around the world researching and filming over 30 one-hour specials for Nat-Geo TV have both amazed viewers world-wide and identified the five most common threats to the world’s largest freshwater fishes. A scientist and TV host who enjoys fishing as much as he does researching fish, Zeb has probably checked off every fish on the bucket list.

Videos:

New Greenland salmon tagging video / ASF
For the last five years, ASF has worked with scientists from DFO and NOAA to map the routes that Atlantic salmon take from Greenland back home to North American and European rivers. Watch as ASF researchers Jonathan Carr and Heather Perry reel in large Atlantic salmon off the west coast of Greenland and release them with tags that track their homeward migration.

Calls to Action:

Ice events – the freeze and thaw dates of lakes and rivers / Ice Watch
As citizen scientists, IceWatch volunteers contribute to a scientific understanding of climate change. By analyzing citizen records, scientists have found that the freeze-thaw cycles of Northern water bodies are changing. However, since climate change is not consistent across the country and there are large gaps in the current monitoring network, scientists require critical data from many more regions. A citizen network of IceWatchers spread throughout Canada can help to supply that information.

Scientists and Local Champions:

After 20 years at the helm of FOCA, Terry Rees has announced he will be stepping down. / FOCA
As the leader of one of the largest membership associations in the Province, Terry has been committed to building a strong community, and to working collaboratively with a broad range of partners to address the many complex challenges facing Ontario’s rural communities and our freshwater environments.

Coming Up:

2024 Invasive Species Forum / ISC
Registration for the 2024 Invasive Species Forum is open and spots are filling up fast. By registering, you’ll make sure that you get a virtual front-row seat for the more than 40 presentations being delivered by invasive species experts from Canada, the United States, and beyond. The Invasive Species Forum is an annual event that brings attention to invasive species issues, research, and advances in prevention and management.

Special Guest Feature – Progress Report on Great Lakes Water Quality / FOCA

The International Joint Commission’s (IJC) 2023 Third Triennial Assessment of Progress on Great Lakes Water Quality is a review of federal government progress under the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement toward healthier Great Lakes. Access the full report (80 pages) as well as a summary of the top 3 recommendations.

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