The Waterloo Record

Nile Tilapia Captured in the Grand River

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Chris Bunt of Biotactic Fish & Wildlife Research recently captured what appears to be a Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), an exotic African fish, in a fish ladder on the Grand River near Hidden Valley. It’s believed to be the first record of the species in Canada and raises the possibility the invasive fish could threaten native species. The fish has been sent to Fisheries and Oceans for testing to determine whether the 28 cm fish had been in the Grand for only a few weeks or much longer. Read more

American Fisheries Society

AFS Response to B.P. Oil Spill

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AFS President Don Jackson has been working closely with the other AFS officers and the AFS executive director to develop a plan for responding to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It has been sent to federal agencies. The plan (American Fisheries Society Oil Spill Initiative), in conjunction with the “President’s Hook” in the July 2010 issue of Fisheries (Vol 35 No 7), gives a framework for discussions with members of your respective subunits regarding the AFS response to the spill.

MNR Repsonds to AFS-OC Concerns Regarding Asian Carp

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The Minister of Natural Resources has responded to Ontario Chapter concerns regarding the potential for Asian Carp to invade the Great Lakes Basin via the Chicago Shipping Canal. Read more

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

DFO Responds to AFS-OC Concerns Regarding Asian Carp

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The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has responded to Ontario Chapter concerns regarding the potential for Asian Carp to invade the Great Lakes Basin via the Chicago Shipping Canal. Read more

MNR Biologist Inducted into Muskies Canada Hall of Fame

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At the 2010 Muskies Canada Board of Directors annual meeting, six individuals, including MNR senior fisheries biologist Steven Kerr, were inducted into the Hall of Fame. With the exception of Steve, all were prominent, long standing members of Muskies Canada. Muskies Canada Hall of Fame Award is the club’s most prestigious award bestowed to individual members who have outstanding dedication in: science, media and club development and promotion. These members receiving this award are nominated and voted in by their peers.

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AFS-OC Voices Concern Regarding Asian Carp

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The Ontario Chapter of the American Fisheries Society has sent letters to the Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Commander of US Army Corp of Engineers, voicing our concern regarding the potential for Asian Carp to invade the Great Lakes Basin via the Chicago Shipping Canal.

Ontario Out of Doors

Chain Pickerel Expanding into Ontario

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The native range of this southern cousin of the Northern Pike is expanding into Ontario. On September 16, 2009, a MNR field crew identified a Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) captured during routine gill-netting operations in the Thousand Islands area of the upper St. Lawrence River. The fish was 58 cm long and weighed approximately 1.4 kg. This was the second documented occurrence of Chain Pickerel in this area in the last year and a half. A commercial fisherman turned in the first in April 2008. These two specimens represent possibly the first documented Chain Pickerel in the province. Read more

News

Spotted Gar Found in East Lake

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It has recently been confirmed that “an unusual fish” caught by commercial fisherman David Baverstock in the Fairfields Cove (Cove Beach) area of East Lake, Prince Edward County  (Lake Ontario, Bay of Quinte area) in 2008, was a Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus). This species is designated as “Threatened” by both the Federal and Provincial Species at Risk lists. Mr. Baverstock, whose family have held commercial fishing rights since 1898, had the foresight to take the fish to the Glenora Fisheries Station where it was photographed, and a tissue sample taken. Subsequently the fish was returned to East Lake. Read more

Eels on Wheels

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An article entitled “Eels on Wheels” in the December 2008 issue of the Walrus, a Canadian general-interest magazine with an international outlook, features MNR biologists and their work, concerns and research surrounding declining American Eel populations. Read more

Fleming College

Muskie Hatchery Stirs Interest in Aquaculture at Fleming College

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No one thought that in its first year of production, a tiny 6-tank Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) research facility would produce more than 200 fall fingerlings for reintroduction into Lake Simcoe, located in southern Ontario. The research facility, which was converted from a college classroom into a hatchery, is located at Sir Sandford Fleming College (SSFC) in Lindsay, Ontario. Read more