The Margaree Salmon Association in northern Cape Breton has been utilizing electrofishing to monitor fish populations in the Margaree River for the past several years. This method involves using an electric current to temporarily stun fish, allowing crews to safely capture, measure, and identify them before releasing them back into the water.
Michael Fabiano, the conservation co-ordinator of the association, mentioned that the electrofishing activities take place from May to late September, with a low mortality rate of two percent among the thousands of fish processed each season. Safety measures are paramount, and electrofishing is avoided when water temperatures are too high to ensure the well-being of the fish.
Crews carefully regulate the electric current to cause fish to momentarily roll over, wearing protective gear such as heavy rubber gloves and chest waders to prevent any injuries from working with electricity in water. Surveying various locations along the 120-kilometre river allows the team to identify the most productive streams and evaluate the overall health of the fish population, which primarily consists of trout and Atlantic salmon, with occasional sightings of eels and lampreys.
This season, the association has captured and released approximately 1,800 fish across nine streams, showing a decrease from the previous year. Fabiano attributed this decline to the challenging conditions experienced in the previous year, with low water levels and high temperatures due to a severe drought that impacted the Margaree River.
Paul MacNeil, the president of the association, highlighted the increased focus on scientific research due to reduced data collection efforts by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the past five years. To address this gap, the association collaborated with the Chéticamp River Salmon Association to acquire electrofishing equipment. While traditional fish counting methods involve swimming the river, MacNeil emphasized that electrofishing provides more accurate data on juvenile fish populations.
The partnership aims to ensure reliable data tracking for river health as climate patterns evolve. MacNeil emphasized the efficiency of electrofishing in capturing juvenile fish within specific territories, enhancing the association’s ability to monitor and protect the river’s ecosystem.
