Measuring the State of Measuring the State of FishFish

Measuring the State of Fish Measuring the State of Fish

There are many human There are many human stressors that impact a fish stressors that impact a fish community and specific community and specific fish species such as: fish species such as: fishing, habitat loss, fishing, habitat loss, invasive species (exotic & invasive species (exotic & range extensions), range extensions), pollutionpollution

MNR utilizes standard MNR utilizes standard netting surveys to measure netting surveys to measure fish status and some fish status and some invasive speciesinvasive species

Measuring the State of Fish Measuring the State of Fish

Other surveys are carried Other surveys are carried out to measure the out to measure the stressors such as:stressors such as:– Creel surveys to measure Creel surveys to measure

fishing pressurefishing pressure– Water testing to measure Water testing to measure

pollution, chemical habitat pollution, chemical habitat availability (O2, temp, N, P availability (O2, temp, N, P etc.) and invasive speciesetc.) and invasive species

– Physical habitat mapping to Physical habitat mapping to identify spawning & nursery identify spawning & nursery limitations/opportunitieslimitations/opportunities

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:Standard Netting SurveysStandard Netting Surveys

benefitsbenefits– A means of controlling some variables in nature and A means of controlling some variables in nature and

hopefully measuring themhopefully measuring them– Reduce sampling biasReduce sampling bias– Can directly compare results year to year and across Can directly compare results year to year and across

different lakes measured using the same standard different lakes measured using the same standard techniquetechnique

Standard criteria Standard criteria – Gear size, material, dimensions, configurationGear size, material, dimensions, configuration– Timing (water temperature, thermal stratification)Timing (water temperature, thermal stratification)– Number of sets per lake and set durationNumber of sets per lake and set duration– Random selection of sites meeting standard criteriaRandom selection of sites meeting standard criteria– Net orientation to shore and/or depth contoursNet orientation to shore and/or depth contours– Gear depthGear depth– Minimum net separation distances and duration Minimum net separation distances and duration

between reuse of sitesbetween reuse of sites

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish: Standard Netting Surveys Standard Netting Surveys

There are two main There are two main types of gear utilized in types of gear utilized in lakeslakes– Gill netsGill nets– Trap netsTrap nets

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:Other standard & non-standard gearOther standard & non-standard gear

Standard electro- Standard electro- fishing protocol fishing protocol developed for streams developed for streams

Other non-standard Other non-standard gear that are useful in gear that are useful in certain situations certain situations include: seine nets, include: seine nets, hoop nets, minnow hoop nets, minnow traps, dip nets, traps, dip nets, electrofishing boatselectrofishing boats

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

Gear TypeGear Type ConsCons ProsPros

Gill NetsGill Nets Can be lethal if set too Can be lethal if set too long, some surveys long, some surveys utilize shorter set utilize shorter set durations to minimize thisdurations to minimize thisSome species not as Some species not as vulnerable to gill nets vulnerable to gill nets (crappie, largemouth (crappie, largemouth bass, sunfish, eel)bass, sunfish, eel)

can gather more can gather more information from lethal information from lethal sample: better age sample: better age structures, sex, sexual structures, sex, sexual maturity, contaminant maturity, contaminant samples, stomach samplessamples, stomach samplesSamples the entire lakeSamples the entire lakeEasier & lighter to handle, Easier & lighter to handle, can utilize wider variety of can utilize wider variety of boatsboatsLess time required to Less time required to complete survey, usually can complete survey, usually can lift, sample and reset 10-12 lift, sample and reset 10-12 nets per daynets per day

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

Gear TypeGear Type ConsCons ProsPros

Trap NetsTrap Nets heavy (dry weight 165 lbs) heavy (dry weight 165 lbs) and harder to handleand harder to handle boats need to be open at boats need to be open at front and minimum 16 ftfront and minimum 16 ft more time required to more time required to complete survey, usually can complete survey, usually can only lift, sample and reset only lift, sample and reset four nets per dayfour nets per day lake size, near shore slope lake size, near shore slope & aquatic vegetation can & aquatic vegetation can limit # of suitable netting limit # of suitable netting sitessites fish smaller than 4” can fish smaller than 4” can pass through mesh (perch)pass through mesh (perch)

non-lethal samplingnon-lethal sampling

Captures all fish species Captures all fish species inhabiting the near shore inhabiting the near shore areaarea

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:Standard Netting SurveysStandard Netting Surveys

Trap NetsTrap Nets

Survey NameSurvey Name Targeted FishTargeted Fish TimingTiming Min. # net Min. # net setssets

End of Spring End of Spring Trap Netting Trap Netting ((ESTNESTN))

WalleyeWalleye Spring (May-Spring (May-June)June)

Water 12C-18C Water 12C-18C

16 overnight sets16 overnight sets

10 days on lake10 days on lake

Nearshore Nearshore Community Community Index Netting Index Netting ((NSCINNSCIN))

All near shore All near shore species such as species such as bass, pike, bass, pike, sunfish, crappie, sunfish, crappie, bullheads, bullheads, suckers, walleyesuckers, walleye

August to end August to end SeptemberSeptember

Water > 13C Water > 13C

16 overnight sets16 overnight sets

10 days on lake10 days on lake

Measuring the State of Fish: Measuring the State of Fish: Standard Netting SurveysStandard Netting Surveys

Gill NetsGill NetsSurvey NameSurvey Name Targeted FishTargeted Fish TimingTiming Min # net setsMin # net sets

Broad scale Broad scale Monitoring (Monitoring (BsMBsM))

All fish species All fish species Mid June to end Mid June to end of Septemberof September

Water >18CWater >18C

12-55 overnight 12-55 overnight sets, lake size & sets, lake size & depth dependantdepth dependant

3-10 days on 3-10 days on lakelake

Fall Walleye Index Fall Walleye Index Netting (Netting (FWINFWIN))

WalleyeWalleye, yellow , yellow perch, cisco, perch, cisco, whitefishwhitefish

Late September to Late September to late Octoberlate October

Water 15C-10CWater 15C-10C

8-28 overnight sets 8-28 overnight sets for lakes 10 to for lakes 10 to 5000 ha5000 ha

3-6 days on lake3-6 days on lake

Summer Profundal Summer Profundal Index Netting Index Netting ((SPINSPIN))

Lake troutLake trout, , whitefish, ciscowhitefish, cisco

Mid July to mid Mid July to mid SeptemberSeptember

25-44 two hour 25-44 two hour sets for lakes 10-sets for lakes 10-1000 ha 1000 ha

4-7 days on lake4-7 days on lake

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fishing] SurveysCreel [Fishing] Surveys

Provides:Provides:– estimates of fishing estimates of fishing

effort, catch rates & effort, catch rates & total harvest by species total harvest by species

– Angler origins & visitor Angler origins & visitor types (daytrip, cottage, types (daytrip, cottage, paid guest, non-pd paid guest, non-pd guest etc)guest etc)

– Size, weight, age of Size, weight, age of harvested fish (if harvested fish (if collected)collected)

Angler Origin

CAN

USA

ONT

Local

Fish Fish speciesspecies

Fishing Fishing efforteffort

Catch Catch raterate

Total Total Harvest Harvest

Angler-Angler-hrshrs

No. No. fish/hrfish/hr

No. fishNo. fish

WalleyeWalleye

PikePike

BassBass

TroutTrout

65006500

32003200

89008900

22002200

0.750.75

1.101.10

1.451.45

0.150.15

20002000

13001300

55005500

500500

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fishing] SurveysCreel [Fishing] Surveys

4 main types of creel surveys:4 main types of creel surveys:– RovingRoving

on the lake counting boats and talking to themon the lake counting boats and talking to them Good for lakes where boats heading out from numerous locationsGood for lakes where boats heading out from numerous locations Often incomplete fishing trip information, used to estimate a complete tripOften incomplete fishing trip information, used to estimate a complete trip

– AccessAccess Interviewing anglers as they leave the lake from access point(s)Interviewing anglers as they leave the lake from access point(s) Good for lakes where boats heading out from few locationsGood for lakes where boats heading out from few locations Get complete fishing trip information, less estimation requiredGet complete fishing trip information, less estimation required

– Voluntary logsVoluntary logs Books or forms handed out ahead of time to anglersBooks or forms handed out ahead of time to anglers Biased results if all large cross section of anglers don’t participate or only Biased results if all large cross section of anglers don’t participate or only

fill out for successful tripsfill out for successful trips Works best with participation incentives and/or on-lake coordinatorWorks best with participation incentives and/or on-lake coordinator

– Aerial boat countsAerial boat counts Boats counted from aircraftBoats counted from aircraft Only gives estimate of fishing effortOnly gives estimate of fishing effort Cost of aircraft can be prohibitiveCost of aircraft can be prohibitive

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fishing] SurveysCreel [Fishing] Surveys

Creel design:Creel design:– Final estimates are derived from “snap-shot” samples Final estimates are derived from “snap-shot” samples

obtained throughout a survey periodobtained throughout a survey period– Survey periods experience fluctuating levels of fishing Survey periods experience fluctuating levels of fishing

effort, catch rate, harvest etc. depending upon:effort, catch rate, harvest etc. depending upon: Season: spring open fishing seasons, summer vacation, fall, Season: spring open fishing seasons, summer vacation, fall,

winterwinter Day type: weekday vs weekendDay type: weekday vs weekend Period: morning, midday, evening; walleye lakes experience Period: morning, midday, evening; walleye lakes experience

three periods whereas lake trout & bass lakes one or twothree periods whereas lake trout & bass lakes one or two Area or lake basins: for larger lakes to ensure boat counts are Area or lake basins: for larger lakes to ensure boat counts are

completed in 30-50 minutescompleted in 30-50 minutes

– Need “snap-shot” samples on 2-3 occasions, regardless Need “snap-shot” samples on 2-3 occasions, regardless of weather (rain or shine), for each combination of the of weather (rain or shine), for each combination of the aboveabove

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:Creel [Fish] SurveysCreel [Fish] Surveys

How to conduct a roving creel surveyHow to conduct a roving creel surveyOn randomly chosen sample day: On randomly chosen sample day: 1.1. Boat around the lake [basin] and count boats that are Boat around the lake [basin] and count boats that are

fishing, don’t stop to interview during counts, should fishing, don’t stop to interview during counts, should complete in 30-50 minutescomplete in 30-50 minutes

2.2. Interview as many fishing boats as possible. Introduce Interview as many fishing boats as possible. Introduce yourself & ask if they’d mind answering a few quick yourself & ask if they’d mind answering a few quick questions:questions:

1.1. What time did you start fishing today?What time did you start fishing today?2.2. Are you staying on the lake, if so, where?Are you staying on the lake, if so, where?3.3. Where do you live?Where do you live?4.4. What are you fishing for today?What are you fishing for today?5.5. Have you caught anything? (record all species caught, often Have you caught anything? (record all species caught, often

need to prompt for other species)need to prompt for other species)6.6. Have you kept anything? If yes, and you are sampling this boatHave you kept anything? If yes, and you are sampling this boat

1.1. Do you mind if we take lengths, weights and scales from your fish?Do you mind if we take lengths, weights and scales from your fish?

Plan to carry out two boat counts and 1-2 interview periods Plan to carry out two boat counts and 1-2 interview periods per sample dayper sample day

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:SAFETY FIRST!SAFETY FIRST!

Volunteer agreement forms cover those listed on Volunteer agreement forms cover those listed on the form:the form:– Volunteers do not qualify for workplace safety & Volunteers do not qualify for workplace safety &

insurance benefitsinsurance benefits– MNR has purchased Accidental Death & MNR has purchased Accidental Death &

Dismemberment Policy on behalf of volunteersDismemberment Policy on behalf of volunteers– Ontario General Liability Protection Program protects Ontario General Liability Protection Program protects

volunteers from suits arising through injury caused to volunteers from suits arising through injury caused to another person or another person’s property while another person or another person’s property while performing duties listed on volunteer agreement formperforming duties listed on volunteer agreement form

– Volunteers dealing with the public will carry volunteer Volunteers dealing with the public will carry volunteer identification provided by MNRidentification provided by MNR

Measuring the State of Fish:Measuring the State of Fish:SAFETY FIRST!SAFETY FIRST!

The Min. of Labour & Transport Canada require certain The Min. of Labour & Transport Canada require certain safety training & equipment is provided & on board:safety training & equipment is provided & on board:– Safety kit: Cell phone kept in waterproof container, buoyant throw Safety kit: Cell phone kept in waterproof container, buoyant throw

rope (15m+), working flashlight, flares, fire extinguisher, whistle or rope (15m+), working flashlight, flares, fire extinguisher, whistle or some other sounding device, bailing bucket, map of lake, running some other sounding device, bailing bucket, map of lake, running lights if on lake ½ after sunset or before sunriselights if on lake ½ after sunset or before sunrise

– Let someone know where you will be and expected time off lakeLet someone know where you will be and expected time off lake– All boat operators must have a Pleasure Craft Operators CardAll boat operators must have a Pleasure Craft Operators Card– One approved personal flotation device per passengerOne approved personal flotation device per passenger– One paddle or an anchor with 15m+ cable, rope or chainOne paddle or an anchor with 15m+ cable, rope or chain– Dry land Man-Over-Board training & dry land putting on PFD in Dry land Man-Over-Board training & dry land putting on PFD in

water trainingwater training Reminder to stay off or get off the lake if thunderstorms are Reminder to stay off or get off the lake if thunderstorms are

approaching or other weather conditions such as high approaching or other weather conditions such as high winds make it unsafewinds make it unsafe

How Can Stewardship Councils and Other How Can Stewardship Councils and Other Partners Get Involved ?Partners Get Involved ?

There is reimbursement funding There is reimbursement funding available ($500-$2500) through available ($500-$2500) through the Community Fisheries & the Community Fisheries & Wildlife Involvement Fund Wildlife Involvement Fund (CFWIP) to cover: (CFWIP) to cover:

Equipment & suppliesEquipment & supplies

Deadline to apply is Deadline to apply is February February 11stst

Applications and guidelines available from your district office

CFWIPCFWIP CFWIP $ cannot be utilized to pay wages (except for heavy equipment CFWIP $ cannot be utilized to pay wages (except for heavy equipment

operator costs)operator costs)

Work must be completed by volunteersWork must be completed by volunteers

Funding provided after submission of receipts for equipment and Funding provided after submission of receipts for equipment and materials (applicants must be willing to initially cover purchasing costs)materials (applicants must be willing to initially cover purchasing costs)

Equipment purchased with CFWIP $’s is OMNR property and may be Equipment purchased with CFWIP $’s is OMNR property and may be returned to OMNR upon completion of projectreturned to OMNR upon completion of project

OMNR staff available to meet with stewardship councils to provide OMNR staff available to meet with stewardship councils to provide project ideas and technical guidanceproject ideas and technical guidance