Aquatic Research and Development

Welcome to the Aquatic Research and Development Section (ARDS) of Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources.

We're a team of professionals conducting aquatic research and providing the science needed to effectively manage Ontario's aquatic resources. Since the first Lands and Forests Fisheries Research Station was established on Manitoulin Island in 1947, our research has continued to improve the understanding of Ontario’s fisheries and aquatic habitats and helped guide policies to protect them for future generations.

The Aquatic Research and Development Section is based at Trent University in Peterborough, but staff are located at several other facilities and conduct research across Ontario.