The Margaree Salmon Association in northern Cape Breton has been utilizing electrofishing as a method to monitor fish populations in the Margaree River for the past few years. Electrofishing involves briefly stunning fish with an electric current, allowing crews to safely capture, measure, and identify them before releasing them back into the river.
Michael Fabiano, the conservation co-ordinator of the association, mentioned that electrofishing operations occur from May to late September with a minimal two percent mortality rate among the thousands of fish processed each season. Safety of the fish is a top priority, and electrofishing is avoided when water temperatures are too high.
To ensure the safety of crew members working with electricity in water, current levels are carefully set to cause fish to roll over for only a brief period. Crew members wear heavy rubber gloves and chest waders to prevent any injuries. The survey covers various locations along the 120-kilometre river to identify productive streams and assess overall fish health, with approximately 95 percent of the catch comprising trout and Atlantic salmon, along with occasional eels and lampreys.
This season, the association has captured and released around 1,800 fish across nine streams, showing a decrease from the previous year. This decline is attributed to the challenging conditions experienced last year when low water levels and high temperatures due to a severe drought significantly impacted the Margaree River.
Paul MacNeil, the association’s president, highlighted the increased focus on scientific research due to reduced data collection efforts by Fisheries and Oceans Canada over the past five years. The association, established in 1982, aims to gather reliable data to monitor river health amidst shifting climate conditions. In collaboration with the Chéticamp River Salmon Association, the Margaree Salmon Association acquired electrofishing equipment to enhance data collection efforts. While manual fish counting is also conducted, electrofishing provides more accurate data on juvenile fish populations in specific territories.
The Margaree Salmon Association’s initiative to enhance research and data collection through electrofishing reflects their commitment to preserving the health and sustainability of the Margaree River ecosystem.