In recent years, the Margaree Salmon Association in northern Cape Breton has been utilizing electrofishing to monitor fish populations within the Margaree River. This method involves using an electric current to temporarily stun fish, allowing crews to safely capture, measure, and identify them before returning them to the water.
According to Michael Fabiano, the association’s conservation coordinator, electrofishing operations typically run from May to late September. Despite processing thousands of fish each season, the technique results in a minimal two percent mortality rate. Fish safety remains the top priority for the crews, and electrofishing is avoided when water temperatures are deemed too high.
To ensure the safety of both the fish and crew members, current levels are carefully set to cause fish to momentarily roll over. Crew members wear heavy rubber gloves and chest waders to minimize the risk of electric shock while working in the water. As per Fabiano, no serious shock incidents have occurred during his tenure with the group spanning 18 months.
The survey teams cover various locations along the 120-kilometer river to pinpoint the most productive streams and evaluate the overall health of the fish population. The catch predominantly comprises trout and Atlantic salmon, with occasional sightings of eels and lampreys. This season, the association has captured and released around 1,800 fish across nine streams, showing a slight decline compared to the previous year.
Paul MacNeil, the association’s president, noted an increase in scientific research efforts due to reduced data collection by Fisheries and Oceans Canada over the past five years. Founded in 1982, the group aims to gather reliable data to monitor the river’s health amid shifting climate conditions. To address the data gap, the association collaborated with the Chéticamp River Salmon Association to procure electrofishing equipment. While manual fish counting in the river is also conducted, MacNeil stressed the superior accuracy of electrofishing in assessing juvenile fish populations.
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