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| Atlantic salmon survey |
People like you and me. Organizations and governments. Community and conservation groups. Private citizens and generous corporate sponsors - all pitch in to help the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) protect and restore the biological diversity of the Great Lakes. It takes all of us working in close partnerships to make this happen under the umbrella of the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA).
More than a century and a half ago Atlantic salmon were plentiful
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| Mark Heaton with a mature Atlantic salmon. |
Around 1850, Lake Ontario teemed with a seemingly endless supply of Atlantic salmon. These large fish constituted an important source of food for First Nations communities camped near or traveling through the Great Lakes region. Atlantic salmon were also eaten by early settlers. They were a form of wealth too, according to MNR biologist Mark Heaton who oversees Atlantic salmon restoration efforts on the Credit River. He says, “many immigrants acquired property based on the number of salmon they harvested.”
No more. The last wild Atlantic salmon was spotted in Lake Ontario in 1896.
What happened?
Mark says that loss of habitat and over-fishing made it impossible for Lake Ontario’s Atlantic salmon population to remain in existence. Spawning streams warmed as forests were cleared and spawning beds filled with silt from agriculture and development. Dams across original migratory routes also made it impossible for adult Atlantic salmon to reach their critical spawning habitat upstream.
What’s happening now?
Research and experimental stocking have proven that young salmon can survive in Lake Ontario streams today. Under COA, more than 50 partners – such as conservation agencies, fishing organizations, interested businesses, community groups and private landowners – are putting a lot of hard work into restoring Lake Ontario’s only native salmon to its home waters.
Efforts focus on three “best-bet” streams – the Credit River, Duffins Creek and Cobourg Brook. They’ve been selected because they have high quality spawning and nursery habitat and also a great deal of community interest and support.
More than two million Atlantic salmon have been raised and stocked by MNR and its partners since 2006. Field crews collect the information needed to track progress and volunteers log uncountable hours to help rehabilitate stream habitat. Thousands of students have participated in a classroom hatchery program – learning about conservation first hand.
“We involve all ages in stream cleanup activities, tree planting, fish stocking, fish monitoring, even habitat assessment as well as classroom education,” comments Mark.
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| Warren May (right) releasing fall fingerlings. |
What kinds of rehabilitation activities help?
Trees and shrubs planted along stream banks slow erosion and prevent soil sediments and other pollutants from getting into rivers. They also provide much needed shade to keep water cooler.
Additional fencing keeps livestock away from stream beds and banks preventing their destruction and also prevents pollution from their waste. By-pass channels or “fishways” are constructed to improve access to important upstream spawning habitat.
As well dams are altered to draw colder water from the bottom of rivers and streams to help keep downstream water cooler. Other native Great Lakes species benefit from these changes too, such as redside dace and brook trout.
Responsibility for ensuring that stream habitat is protected and, if necessary, rehabilitated falls to Ministry staff such as Warren May, Durham Region biologist for Duffins Creek. Warren says: “It truly is the partners – including local landowners - who deserve the lion’s share of the credit. They work tirelessly alongside Ministry staff on habitat projects large and small.”
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| Marion Daniels (left) helping a volunteer. |
Marion Daniels, biologist with the Lake Ontario Management Unit and co-chair of the Atlantic salmon recovery team notes that it’s important to measure any and all progress towards restoration.
“Field surveys done by MNR staff, our partners and community volunteers help us find out how stocked Atlantic salmon are faring in the streams and in the lake. They also help us identify any challenges that need to be resolved,” she says.
Everyone in the partnership has been very encouraged by two exciting milestones which occurred recently: reports of the first adults returning to the restored streams to spawn and the discovery of the first wild juvenile.
These markers of success are just the beginning for the dedicated professionals and volunteers alike who continue their work to return this once abundant, native species to Lake Ontario.
You can help! For more information on the program and partnership, log onto www.bringbackthesalmon.ca
Key sponsors, supporters and partners – all help with restoration:
• Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
• Ontario Power Generation Inc.
• The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO)
• Australia’s Banrock Station Wines
• TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
• Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Fleming College
• Trout Unlimited Canada
• Credit Valley Conservation
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
• Great Lakes Fishery Commission
• As well as local charter boat operators, fishing clubs, conservation and community groups, school boards and landowners
